What Do Mechanical Engineers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Mechanical Engineers perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems. They also read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.

Other tasks include:

• Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
• Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
• Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
• Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
• Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
• Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.

We asked Mechanical Engineers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 53% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Mechanical Engineers confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information. They perform personnel functions, such as supervision of production workers, technicians, technologists, or other engineers.

A typical day for a Mechanical Engineer will also include:

• Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.
• Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
• Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
• Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
• Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.

We asked some Mechanical Engineers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	78% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	47% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	93% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	61% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Mechanical Engineers also direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems. They may also recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Mechanical Engineers Design test control apparatus or equipment or develop procedures for testing products. They might also Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects.

In addition, they Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs.

To some Mechanical Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Mechanical Engineer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm

http://www.ashrae.org/

http://www.asme.org/

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