What Do Mechanical Engineering Technology Graduates Do? Can you get excited about a fulfilling hands-on career where people rely on you to improve the machinery and processes used in plant operations?

Do you want to learn how to manage people, machines, and production resources in order to effectively operate in a manufacturing environment?

Are you interested in applying basic engineering principles and skills to the fields of product and machine design, power generation, and energy conservation?

With a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, you can change society for the better by designing useful technologies such as jet aircraft, high-performance automobiles, and exoskeletons to allow those with disabilities to walk!

Mechanical Engineering Technology Graduates

  • Help engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, and other equipment.
  • Assist in product tests — by setting up instrumentation for auto crash tests, for example.
  • Make sketches and rough layouts, record data, make computations, analyze results, and write reports.
  • Prepare layouts and drawings of the assembly process and of parts to be manufactured.
  • Estimate labor costs, equipment life, and plant space.
  • Test and inspect machines and equipment or work with engineers to eliminate production problems.
  • Evaluate design drawings by measuring dimensions on the drawings and comparing them with the original specifications.
  • Review instructions and blueprints for projects in order to ensure that test specifications and procedures are followed and objectives are met.

Specializations

  • Product development
  • Machine design and analysis
  • Alternative energy
  • Materials engineering
  • Thermofluids engineering
  • Marine systems
  • Plastics processing
  • Heating/ventilating/air conditioning (HVAC)

Famous Mechanical Engineers

  • Lillian Moller Gilbreth (known as “the Mother of Modern Management,” and the first female member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
  • Zhang Heng (Chinese inventor of the first hydraulic-powered armillary sphere, as well as the first seismometer device to detect the direction of earthquakes)
  • George Stephenson (British inventor whose pioneering work in the field of mechanical engineering led to the establishment of the world’s first public inter-city railway line that used steam locomotives)
  • Gustaf Dalén (Swedish Nobel Laureate who invented automatic regulators to use in conjunction with gas accumulators for illuminating lighthouses and buoys)
  • James Watt (Scottish engineer and instrument maker known for his invention of the Watt steam engine, which fundamentally changed the Industrial Revolution)
  • Aurel Stodola (Slovak engineer who invented the first heat pump, which serves as the primary source of heat generation for Geneva, Switzerland’s city hall)

Areas of Employment

  • Marketing or sales
  • Product design and development
  • Technical operations
  • Manufacturing
  • Systems engineering
  • Automation and transportation
  • Power generation
  • Plant operations/agriculture
  • Climate control
  • Architecture and construction
  • Trade industries 
  • Applied research
  • Machine design and analysis
  • Government agencies

Career Guidance Suggestions for Pre-University Students

Coursework to Consider:
  • Pre-algebra
  • Geometry
  • Advanced algebra
  • Engineering fundamentals
  • Computer-aided design
  • Manufacturing systems
  • Quality control
  • Fluid mechanics
  • Chemistry
  • Calculus
  • Statistics
  • Research methods
  • Circuits and electronics
  • Accounting
  • Cost management
  • Trigonometry
  • Physics
  • Robotics
  • Programming
Suggested Extracurricular Activities:
  • Competitions
  • Summer programs
  • Afterschool programs
  • Clubs
  • Internships
  • Online puzzles and games
  • Online courses
  • Maker faires
  • Design projects
Local Programs Offered by:
  • Science centers and museums
  • Professional societies like IEEE
  • Universities
Important Skills:
  • Communication skills: be able to clearly explain, both orally and in writing, the need for changes in designs or test procedures.
  • Math skills: use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting.
  • Mechanical skills: apply theory and instructions from engineers by making new components for industrial machinery or equipment.
  • Problem-solving skills: determine root causes of failures using statistical methods and recommend changes in designs or processing methods.
  • Design skills: design layout of the assembly process and of parts to be manufactured.
  • Systems evaluation: identify measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Troubleshooting: provide technical expertise or support related to manufacturing.
  • Detail-oriented: make precise measurements and keep accurate records for mechanical engineers.

Links and Resources