What does a Mechanical Engineer do?
Mechanical Engineers work in a variety of industries, designing and developing machinery pieces that exceed customers’ needs and expectations. They also analyze and evaluate any issues with current products to develop effective solutions. After they design new products, they’ll conduct experiments on them to see how successful they are and to determine if any additional updates are needed.
Mechanical Engineers use CAD technology to build designs and plans for upcoming products. They also create project schedules for their soon-to-be-released products and estimate their delivery dates and deadlines. To help Machine Operators use their newly-designed machines, Mechanical Engineers write technical manuals for their reference.
Mechanical Engineer skills and qualifications
These professionals need a variety of technical skills, industry knowledge and soft skills to work with team members in creating effective products and devices. These skills often include:
- Knowledge of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and other mechanical engineering concepts
- Excellent math skills, including advanced geometry, calculus and physics
- Familiarity with CAD and other mechanical design software
- Creative thinking and innovation
- Advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Great interpersonal skills and teamwork abilities
- Effective verbal and written communication
- Commercial awareness, including an understanding of target user and market
- Ability to work under pressure
Mechanical Engineer salary expectations
A Mechanical Engineer makes an average of $87,551 per year. Salary may depend on level of education, experience and geographical location.
Mechanical Engineer salary expectations
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Common salary:
100889.94 YEARLY -
Typical salaries range from
31000.00 -210000.00 YEARLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Mechanical Engineer education and training requirements
Mechanical Engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or another engineering discipline, such as biomedical or computer engineering. Their education typically includes theoretical coursework, hands-on projects and training with various programs that include computer programming, power systems and technically oriented material subjects, like hydraulics, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
These professionals are likely to hold or be in pursuit of a Professional Engineering (PE) license. To earn the PE licensure, candidates should have a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and experience working under the supervision of a licensed engineer.
Mechanical Engineer experience requirements
Entry-level candidates may have gained experience during their studies through internships and cooperative education experiences. Others may have a few years of experience as a junior-level Mechanical Engineer. Experienced candidates with at least five years of experience may and/or an advanced degree may be qualified for a leadership Mechanical Engineer role.
Depending on the needs of the role and workplace, relevant experience may be limited to a specific industry or include multiple engineering industries, including:
- Automotive
- Utilities and energy
- Manufacturing
- Retail and goods
- Healthcare
Job descriptions for similar positions
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