Fascinated with engines and machines of all kinds? Well-organized and detail-oriented? Mechanical engineering technicians work with machines in all sorts of ways— from helping create new designs… to developing models and testing them… to manufacturing and operating finished machines. Often working with instructions from mechanical engineers, these technicians use 3-D design software, or sometimes paper and pencil, to make sketches of parts to be made, and of the process for putting parts together. To help determine the viability of producing parts, mechanical engineering technicians estimate labor costs, length of equipment life, and plant space needed for production. Based on their designs, they plan and produce new mechanical parts or make changes to existing products. Precision is critical— so products and equipment are tested and results are compared with original design specifications. When issues are uncovered, mechanical engineering technicians work with engineers to eliminate production problems. These technicians work primarily for engineering firms and manufacturing facilities on products such as flight simulators and control panels. Some work in research labs. Most work full time. Employers prefer candidates with an associate’s degree or certificate in mechanical engineering technology. Taking science and math courses in high school is helpful.
What they do:
Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.
On the job, you would:
Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.
Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
Engineering and Technology
product and service development
mechanical
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
physics
Arts and Humanities
English language
Transportation
movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Basic Skills
reading work related information
talking to others
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Verbal
read and understand what is written
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
use rules to solve problems
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
Hand and Finger Use
put together small parts with your fingers
keep your arm or hand steady
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Integrity
Analytical Thinking
Cooperation
Adaptability/Flexibility
You might use software like this on the job:
Computer aided design CAD software
Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical
PTC Creo Parametric
Analytical or scientific software
A&D Technology iTest
Data acquisition software
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
associate's degree or bachelor's degree usually needed
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