Mechanical Engineer
Career information and advice on being a Mechanical Engineer

A Mechanical Engineer is trained to design, plan, develop, assemble and maintain machines, mechanical devices, tools and components.

To able to carry out these tasks, Mechanical Engineers have to apply scientific and mathematical principles to build  jet engines, instruments used in laboratories, power plants, vehicles and design the heating and cooling systems for buildings.

The scientific principles applied include mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics and energy.

The Mechanical Engineering profession is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. After qualifying with a mechanical engineering degree one can diversify into any field of expertise that deals with developing mechanical devices which include Building, Civil and Electrical Engineering, public utilities, energy, oil and gas, construction and IT, Engineering Consulting services or Laboratory. In essence a Mechanical Engineer can work in any institution where there is innovation.

These include the following:

• Manufacturing – constructing engines and gear components, servicing and maintaining conveyor and packaging equipment, and servicing robotic machinery on production lines.
• Power and processing – designing and developing industrial plant equipment, such as valves and pumps for energy companies.
• Construction services – maintaining and fixing lifts and escalators, and installing heating and air conditioning systems.
• Transport – maintaining mechanical parts on rail engines and signaling equipment.

Mechanical Engineer functions include

A Mechanical Engineer designs and develops various mechanical interventions used in installing, building and servicing mechanical equipment across industries including health, pharmacology, manufacturing, aerodynamics, energy production and aerospace propulsion.

Research and Development role

A Mechanical Engineer is responsible for conducting a broad scope of research into both fundamental and applied areas of mechanics in the field they are in. These investigations enable a mechanical engineer to develop and test new products and innovations and to build prototypes.

Research activities focus on experimental and computational investigations of mechanical systems.

 Mechanical Engineers use analytical skills, mathematical modelling to perform their research and development role.

Designing mechanical equipment and tools

 A Mechanical Engineer turns scientific findings into technical plans, engineering drawings or modelling programs by utilising computer technology, namely computer aided design (CAD).

The use of CAD requires a Mechanical Engineer to be highly literate in computer technology so they are able to use the advanced technology in designing.
 
The design process for Mechanical Engineers entails moving from a mechanical concept to a detailed design and then drawing the production.

 Mechanical Engineers provide operating manuals on how parts and assemblies should be laid out after production to attain optimum performance.

Production of products and power

A Mechanical Engineer is responsible for improving the performance of mechanical production systems such as machinery, tools, assembly production lines and processes.
Mechanical Engineers also oversee the installation of new instruments as per the design outlines and to agreed timings. This ensures that the product can deliver its purpose for which it is intended.
In some cases Mechanical Engineers work with other departments like marketing to get customer feedback or specifications so as to be able to draw new designs to improve products.

System maintenance and management role

Mechanical Engineers are responsible for servicing and maintaining mechanical systems. Mechanical engineers are also responsible for commissioning and monitoring plants and mechanical systems. In this case the Mechanical Engineers have to ensure that equipment is operating on set standards to ensure the safety of users as well as the public. This requires the ability to follow and understand operating mechanical rules and procedures so as to be able to maintain and install new equipment.

Transfer of product knowledge

Mechanical Engineers are 1st in the product value chain as their design specifications enable marketers to market the products. As a result Mechanical Engineers coordinate the knowledge of products with other departments in the organisation as well as provide the benefits of the product to stakeholders.

Managing relationships

A Mechanical Engineer works with other people outside the engineering specialisation who may not understand engineering concepts. Therefore, an engineer has to explain the pros and cons of engineering processes and why certain decisions have to be taken to increase efficiency of equipment or processes. This also entails highlighting the safety issues associated with any engineering projects that they may be undertaking.  Mechanical Engineers have to discuss and solve complex engineering problems with other departments, customers and sub-contractors.

Mechanical Engineers therefore must have ability to communicate effectively and be able to offer specialist knowledge to users of products and their working team to avoid losses and misunderstandings.

 Mechanical Engineers in a management role are responsible for providing direction to the team, mentoring and guiding junior mechanical engineers.

Specialist role

A Mechanical Engineer has to provide guidelines for engineering projects in the form of technical drawings or plans and give necessary advice where applicable regarding the modification of a mechanical process or product.  The guidelines may also be in form of operating manuals that one Mechanical Engineer puts together and another one has to interpret to configure mechanical equipment.

For example one engineer may design a product and another will ensure design specifications are met during production and a further engineer will make sure the installation and maintenance requirements are met for operation purposes. At every stage of the value chain a Mechanical Engineer must be able to provide the necessary engineering expertise.

Mechanical Engineers must utilise their expertise to be able to detect mechanical defaults and proffer reliable and sustainable solutions.

Managing health and safety

Mechanical Engineers are not only responsible for safety in their own working environment but for the safety of the public. This requires an understanding of the working health and safety rules and procedures for the field they specialise in. For example a Mechanical Engineer in Construction must know and understand the Construction Health and Safety laws that include The Work at Heights Regulations 2005. So depending on their specialisation a Mechanical Engineer may have to take courses, attend workshops on various health and safety regulations to hone their health and safety skills.

Organisations like the Health and Safety Professional provides training for a variety of job roles, such as engineers.

All products that a Mechanical Engineer designs and produces must be reliable and safe for the public and environment. This entails keeping abreast with all legal considerations including system safety, risk analysis methods, updated safety laws and their agencies, permissible exposure limits and cases challenging engineering designs.