JOB DUTIES  

Mechanical Engineers may:  

Design products or systems, such as instruments, controls, engines, machines, and mechanical, thermal, hydraulic, or heat transfer systems  

Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, and computer-generated reports

Plan and direct the fabrication of test control apparatus and equipment  

Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products using drafting tools or computer-assisted design (CAD) or drafting equipment and software

Develop methods and procedures for testing products or systems  

Direct and coordinate construction and installation activities to ensure conformance with engineering design and customer specifications  

Coordinate operation, maintenance, and repair activities to obtain the best use of machines and systems  

Conduct research that tests and analyzes the feasibility, design, operation and performance of equipment, components and systems

Evaluate installations and recommend changes to eliminate malfunctions  

To view Mechanical Engineers at work click here.

The tools and equipment used may include:  

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES  

Mechanical Engineers may specialize in these areas:  

007.061-010 AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS develop improved or new designs for automotive structural parts, engines, transmissions, suspension systems, and associated equipment. They may also direct the building, modification, and testing of vehicles.  

007.061-014 MECHANICAL ENGINEERS work with the design, production, installation, operation and maintenance of tools, machines, engines, and other mechanical equipment.  

007.167-014 PLANT ENGINEERS direct and coordinate activities concerned with the design, construction, and maintenance of equipment and machines in an industrial plant.  

007.061-034 UTILIZATION ENGINEERS solve engineering problems concerned with industrial utilization of fossil fuels and other energy sources.  

007.061-038 MANUFACTURING APPLICATIONS ENGINEERS plan, design, and coordinate the integration of machinery and equipment into the manufacturing processes of industrial establishments. They develop and write equipment specifications, performance requirements, cost analyses, and proposals for the use of machinery and equipment such as robots, robot controllers, and programmable controllers.  

Other specializations include mechanical-design Engineer, mechanical research Engineer, mechanical-equipment test Engineer, consulting-design Engineer, and manufacturing Engineer (see Career Exploration Script #146 - Industrial Engineer).  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:  

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS  

Mechanical Engineers usually work with other engineers, architects, technicians, managers, shop employees, production line workers and drafters. They work at desks or CAD workstations in offices that are well lighted and climate controlled. Those working in maintenance, production, construction, or installation activities work in plants or outdoors. They may be exposed to plant conditions, such as noise, dust, fumes, and all kinds of weather.  

Mechanical Engineers generally work a 5-day, 40-hour week. They may work overtime if emergencies occur or if deadlines must be met. Those working in production or maintenance may work on weekends and be on call at other times. Self-employed Engineers arrange their schedules for the convenience of their customers. They must also travel at times.  

Mechanical Engineers may join professional organizations such as The American Society of Mechanical Engineersand The National Society of Professional Engineers. Members of professional associations must pay periodic membership fees.  

You Should Prefer:

• Activities of a scientific and technical nature

• Activities involved with machines and other mechanical devices

• Activities which require a creative imagination  

You Should Be Able To:

• Use reason and logic

• Use basic principles of physics

• Apply mathematical principles

• Understand the meanings of words and ideas

• Understand how drawings/pictures would look as solid objects

• See detail in objects/drawings & slight differences in shapes/shadings

• Rate information by personal judgment/standards that can be checked
  
  
• Work within precise limits or standards of accuracy

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

• Perform a variety of duties which may change often

• Plan/direct/control an entire activity or the activities of others  

Math Problem You Should Be Able To Solve: 

Find the magnitude of the momentum of a .5 kilogram ball traveling at 8 meters per second.  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:  

Potential energy can be brought into the act by applying the conservation of energy to a cylinder rolling down an inclined plane.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:  

You should be able to report accurately, in written form, the results of an experiment that you conducted.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Produce:  

You should be able to examine an installation and decide if there is any way to adjust it for fewer malfunctions.  

Engineers performing work that affects public health, life, or property must be licensed by the Board of Professional Engineers of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.    Click herefor "Michigan Licensed Occupations," see Engineer, Licensed Professional for specific licensing information.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES  

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond high school) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.  

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration Script:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***  

0300 AUTOMOTIVE , 0500 BUILDING TRADES , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1200 ELECTRONICS , 1300 ENGLISH , 2200 MATH , 2300 METALS , 2900 SCIENCE , 3000 SOCIAL STUDIES , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS , 3200 TECHNICAL DRAWING , 3300 TECHNOLOGY , 3400 WOODS  

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***  

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***  

058 ENGINEERING (PRE-PROFESSIONAL)  

Pre-Engineering Programs provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required for admission to professional engineering colleges.  

Many Michigan colleges and universities offer programs which may satisfy the prerequisites for admission to engineering schools. Students should contact the engineering schools of their choice for admission requirements and consult their school's pre-professional adviser to ensure that admission prerequisites will be met.  

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

The most common requirements for entering a community college are a high school diploma, or GED, or being at least 18 years old and completing application forms. In addition, entering a college or university may require graduation from high school in a college preparatory program, a grade point average acceptable to the school to which you apply, and passing entrance examinations. 

097 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING  

Programs in Mechanical Engineering provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for professional leadership in Mechanical Engineering. Areas of concern include the principles of mechanics and heat, energy, the environment, manufacturing production, and design. Mechanical Engineers work in the aerospace, automotive, chemical, foundry, computer, and machine tool industries.  

Courses within this program vary from school to school but may include:  

 Search for a College and/or Instructional Program  

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***  

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration Script.  

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***  

Please check the Military web site at http://www.todaysmilitary.com/

.  

AEROSPACE ENGINEERS  

Although private companies build the military's aerospace equipment, military engineers are responsible for seeing that all equipment meets service needs. Aerospace engineers design and direct the development of military aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft.  

What They Do  

Aerospace engineers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Plan and conduct research on aircraft guidance, propulsion, and weapons systems

• Study new designs for aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft

• Help select private companies to build military aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft

• Decide what tests should be conducted of prototypes (full-scale test models)

• Conduct stress analysis and wind tunnel tests with aircraft and missile prototypes  

Special Requirements  

A 4-year college degree in aeronautical, astronautical, or mechanical engineering is required to enter this occupation.  

Helpful Attributes  

Helpful attributes include:

• Interest in concepts and principles of engineering

• Interest in working with mathematical formulas

• Interest in planning and directing research projects  

Work Environment  

Aerospace engineers work in offices or laboratories.  

Civilian Counterparts  

Civilian aerospace engineers usually work in the aircraft manufacturing industry. Some work for the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other government agencies. As in the military, civilian aerospace engineers may specialize in one type of aerospace product, such as aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles. They may also specialize in engineering specialties such as product design, testing, or production research. Depending on their specialty, they may be called aeronautical engineers, aeronautical test engineers, aeronautical test engineers, or stress analysts.  

Training Provided  

No initial job training is provided to officers in this occupation.  

Opportunities  

The exact number of aerospace engineers in the military is unknown. Newly commissioned aerospace engineers are usually assigned to engineering research and development units or laboratories. They work under the direction of experienced officers conducting research. With experience, they may serve as research and development managers or laboratory managers.  

E-Learning Courses and Programs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY  

You may explore this field through summer or part-time jobs in manufacturing and engineering firms. Postsecondary programs in general mechanical engineering programs plus work study and internships also offer opportunities. Cooperative education programs in engineering are available through various departments and agencies of the federal government.  

School-to-Work opportunities include:  

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Mechanical Engineer employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Mechanical Engineer employer  

community service work with an agency  

Mechanical Engineers enter their fields through direct application to employers, taking civil service exams, consulting newspaper want ads, contacting college placement offices, and reading notices in professional journals. The Society of Automotive Engineers lists job openings in its publications, "Automotive Engineering" and the "Automotive Engineering Bulletin". In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:  

American Society of Mechanical Engineer's Job Database 

Society of Manufacturing Engineers 

NSPE Job Board  

Engineer Jobs   

simplyhired.com

Indeed | one search. all jobs

MONSTERTRAK.COM

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal 

Michigan Talent Bank Classifieds Employment

Ziggs: Free People Search for Professionals

MONSTER.COM

Dice Engineering 

FlipDog.com

Yahoo! hotjobs 

Career Builder 

MONSTERTRAK.COM 

Spherion Jobs  

Net-Temps    

VAULT 

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT  

Earnings of Mechanical Engineers depend on the engineer's experience, capabilities, job responsibilities, and education, and on the type, size, and location of the employing organization.  

Nationally, the median annual earnings of all Mechanical Engineers were $70,408 (2007). The median annual income of licensed professional Mechanical Engineers was $82,500 in late 2007. The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $36,140 in 2007. 

Depending on college records, inexperienced Mechanical Engineers with bachelor's degrees working for the federal government started at $34,139 or $42,290 annually (2008). Those with master's degrees started at $42,290 or $51,738; and those with a Ph.D. began at $54,568.  The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.  

Graduates of Mechanical Engineering programs nationwide were offered annual starting salaries (late 2007) of:  

In Michigan, the annual average salary for Mechanical Engineer was $71,541, with a range of $63,920 to $79,391 (late 2007).

Depending on experience and level of responsibility, Mechanical Engineers employed by government agencies (early 2008) earned:  

Mechanical Engineers working in Grand Rapids earned an average annual salary ranging from $54,766 - $77,480.

The average beginning salary for a graduate at a major university program in Mechanical Engineering was about $55,500 per year in late 2007.  

Some Mechanical Engineers receive bonuses and consulting fees.  

Depending on the employer, fringe benefits for Mechanical Engineers usually include paid holidays, vacations, and sick leave, group health and life insurance, pension plans, and tuition reimbursement. Some employers may offer savings and stock investment plans.  

Engineering graduates begin as supervised trainees. Many companies have programs to acquaint new engineers with industrial practices and engineering specialties. Advancement may come through promotion or increased earnings and benefits. Engineers usually advance to positions of greater responsibility after gaining experience. However, graduate study is becoming increasingly important for advancement. Those with suitable experience may become administrators, managers, superintendents, technical sales representatives, designers, researchers, or chief Engineers. Others may teach in colleges and universities or work as consultants. A small number of journey workers in skilled trades or crafts enter engineering positions, usually in maintenance. However, most engineering jobs require higher levels of formal education.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK  

There were approximately 225,800 Mechanical Engineers employed nationally in 2006. Employment is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2016. Additionally, about 2.2% of them were self-employed. The industry distribution for Mechanical Engineers looked like this:  

To find employers, clickEmployer/Business Locator. 

There are approximately 19,700 Mechanical Engineers employed in Michigan. Most worked in urban areas for manufacturing firms. Others worked for government agencies, educational institutions, and consulting engineering firms.  

The employment of Mechanical Engineers in Michigan is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. An average of 800 annual openings is expected, with 250 due to growth and 550 due to replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.  

The need for Mechanical Engineers in Michigan is dependent upon economic activity, particularly in the automotive industry. The need for Mechanical Engineers will increase because of the growing demand for, and the increasing complexity of, industrial machinery and processes in every industry. In addition, the growth of fields such as transportation systems, environmental control, biomechanics, propulsion systems, communications, and energy conversion will provide job opportunities for Mechanical Engineers. The development of mechatronics, which is the use of electronics to control machines, is being applied in testing and trouble-shooting in aerospace and automotive. The future of mechatronics is in neural networks and artificial intelligence.

 MICHIGAN 'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2014  

MSA designates a Metropolitan Statistical Area.

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

Copyright © 2008 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth