What Is a Career As a Mechanical Engineer?

What Is a Career As a Mechanical Engineer?

What is a career as a mechanical engineer? It is actually more than what it seems. A mechanical engineer (ME) is one who designs and builds machinery that are used in the industrial, scientific, and medical communities to aid in the efficiency of production. They are usually employed by manufacturing companies or research facilities as an integral part of their overall business plan. The definition of what a mechanical engineer does may be very broad, but the reality is that it is not that simplistic. As the name connotes, the role of a ME encompasses a lot more than simply designing or building machinery.

Now, that you have an answer to the title question, let us proceed to the next portion of what is a career as a mechanical engineer? That question is what it takes to become a mechanical engineer. Like all engineers, a ME must first complete a four-year bachelor’s degree at an accredited university. After that, he/she must gain a four-year master’s degree from an accredited university or college. From there, they must also complete a state exam and pass a licensing examination. Once they pass all of these hurdles, they become licensed to practice.

The job of a mechanical engineer does not end there, though. They can continue working for a company for several years before deciding to pursue another type of engineering job or move on to a different area. Some ME chose to take additional schooling so they could further their education and be able to get more specific jobs with higher pay and a more challenging work environment.

What is a career as a mechanical engineer not without risks, though? Engineering jobs, especially high profile positions such as those in the aerospace and defense fields are not for everyone. For these positions, you must be excellent at problem solving and developing plans. Engineers also must be detail oriented and excellent problem solvers. Some engineers decide to specialize in a certain thing, such as working on the space shuttle program or aircraft manufacturing.

What is a career as a mechanical engineer also does have its ups and downs. There is the opportunity to work in a variety of areas. You could work in a research facility designing new aircraft. You may be working in a small shop designing a piece of equipment or a large manufacturer designing large scale pieces of machinery. Some engineers choose to start their own business by operating from their home or from out in the country, or they may work as a consultant.

What is a career as a mechanical engineer is certainly not for everyone. You will need to be detail oriented and have the ability to think fast. Mechanical engineering is an incredibly broad subject, and the requirements for each position are quite specific. For this reason, anyone considering pursuing such an advanced degree must be prepared to take the time to get exactly what they want. If you are already employed in a field that requires a degree in this field, then maybe you could consider taking it. It might not be right for you right away, but it might become more helpful down the road.

What is a career as a mechanical engineer? The most important factor is what type of position you are hoping for. You can end up in an industrial design position designing and building machinery, working as an architect designing structures and other things, or you can even be a product designer creating products for manufacturing. There are many other positions that fall under this broad umbrella as well. If you like to work with big machines and are good at math, then working in a manufacturing plant could be ideal for you, while if you like to work with people and are good with technology, then a design position in a lab or office setting might be your best bet.

So, what is a career as a mechanical engineer? You have options. It might not be right for you right away, but it will always be useful to have this degree on hand so that you know what your alternatives are should you be unable to find a job elsewhere. A lot of people end up choosing different majors because they like to work on different types of projects. Whatever you do, make sure that you are committed to your educational plan.