Mechanical Engineer Career
This section is to help guide you if you are considering a career as a Mechanical Engineer describing career progression, skills and salaries.
Would this role suit me?
If you are a methodical person with strong mathematical ability then this role could be for you. It is a practical and highly technical role that requires a degree or masters in engineering to get started. Many employers will also accept other qualifications if joined with experience. You will excel in this role if you:
- Have strong critical thinking skills
- Find it easy to come up with creative ideas
- Can motivate yourself and also work well in a team
- Have excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Have strong commercial awareness
What kind of tasks could I be doing?
This varied role looks after the design, testing and manufacturing of machinery materials. It could involve the building of components for an engine, maintaining all kinds of industrial equipment, designing computer chips or working with robotic machinery. Your duties could include:
- Determining how mechanical and thermal devices might help solve a problem
- Through the use of analysis and computer aided design you will design or redesign mechanical and thermal devices or subsystems. You could use computer technology to run simulations and test how a machine is likely to work, interact with connected systems and generate specifications for parts.
- Following design you will develop and test those designs by building prototypes
- Oversee the manufacturing process for that design
What type of design work are Mechanical Engineer’s involved in?
A Mechanical Engineer’s role covers a whole host of design work. Projects could include the design of:
- Power-producing machines e.g. electric generators, internal combustion engines, steam & gas turbines.
- Power-using machines e.g. refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.
- Buildings inside such as elevators and escalators.
- Material-handling systems such as conveyor systems and automated transfer stations.
Progression and salary expectations
When starting to work as a Mechanical Engineer you might be on a salary of £20,000 but with experience it could rise to £40,000. In a senior role your salary could even rise to £70,000 depending on location. Many Mechanical Engineers go on to become either Project Engineers or Project Managers, giving them lots of scope for career progression.
Click here to find out more about becoming a Project Manager.
Send us your CV today
If you are interested in a Mechanical Engineer role click here, register with us and upload your up to date CV. We will then contact you if we find a suitable role. You can also search our current engineering roles below.
Jobs
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Senior/ Principal Pipeline Engineer
SK/R/089600Area: Aberdeen
Sector: Oil & Gas
Salary: Market related