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Mechanical engineer

Mechanical engineer
Job description
Mech a n ica l en g in eer s u se en g in eer in g pr in ciples t o pr ov ide efficien t solu t ion s t o t h e dev elopm en t of pr ocesses a n d pr odu ct s, r a n g in g fr om sm a ll com pon en t desig n s t o ex t r em ely la r g e pla n t , m a ch in er y or v eh icles. T h ey ca n w or k on a ll st a g es of a pr odu ct , fr om r esea r ch a n d dev elopm en t t o desig n a n d m a n u fa ct u r e, t h r ou g h t o in st a lla t ion a n d fin a l com m ission in g . Most in du st r ies r ely on m ech a n ica l sy st em s a n d m ech a n ica l en g in eer in g is t h ou g h t t o be on e of t h e m ost div er se of a ll en g in eer in g disciplin es, w it h em ploy m en t oppor t u n it ies a v a ila ble in a w ide r a n g e of sect or s, su ch a s t h e m a n u fa ct u r in g , pow er , con st r u ct ion a n d m edica l in du st r ies. Mech a n ica l en g in eer s ca n a lso be in v olv ed in t h e m a n a g em en t of people a n d r esou r ces, a s w ell a s t h e dev elopm en t a n d u se of n ew m a t er ia ls a n d t ech n olog ies.

Typical work activities

Mech a n ica l en g in eer s w or k on a pr oject fr om t h e in it ia l br ief, t h r ou g h t h e desig n a n d dev elopm en t st a g e, t o t h e t est in g of on e or m or e pr ot ot y pes, r ig h t t h r ou g h t o fin a l m a n u fa ct u r e a n d im plem en t a t ion . Pr oject s ca n v a r y sig n ifica n t ly , fr om r esea r ch in g a n d dev elopin g m edica l pr odu ct s (su ch a s m ech a n ica l h ea r t s) t o im pr ov in g pr odu ct ion pr ocesses in la r g e oil r efin er ies or desig n in g ser v ices w it h in bu ildin g s. T a sk s w ill g en er a lly in clu de: desig n in g a n d im plem en t in g cost -effect iv e equ ipm en t m odifica t ion s t o h elp im pr ov e sa fet y , r elia bilit y a n d t h r ou g h pu t ; dev elopin g a pr oject specifica t ion w it h collea g u es, oft en in clu din g t h ose fr om ot h er en g in eer in g disciplin es; dev elopin g , t est in g a n d ev a lu a t in g t h eor et ica l desig n s; discu ssin g a n d solv in g com plex pr oblem s w it h m a n u fa ct u r in g depa r t m en t s, su b-con t r a ct or s, su pplier s a n d cu st om er s; m a k in g su r e a pr odu ct ca n be m a de a g a in r elia bly a n d w ill per for m con sist en t ly in specified oper a t in g en v ir on m en t s; m a n a g in g pr oject s u sin g en g in eer in g pr in ciples a n d t ech n iqu es; pla n n in g a n d desig n in g n ew pr odu ct ion pr ocesses; pr odu cin g det a ils of specifica t ion s a n d ou t lin e desig n s; r ecom m en din g m odifica t ion s follow in g pr ot ot y pe t est r esu lt s; u sin g r esea r ch , a n a ly t ica l, con cept u a l a n d pla n n in g sk ills, pa r t icu la r ly m a t h em a t ica l m odellin g a n d com pu t er -a ided desig n ; con sider in g t h e im plica t ion s of issu es su ch a s cost , sa fet y a n d t im e con st r a in t s; w or k in g w it h ot h er pr ofession a ls, w it h in a n d ou t side t h e en g in eer in g specia lism ; m on it or in g a n d com m ission in g pla n t a n d sy st em s.

Salary and conditions

Ra n g e of t y pica l st a r t in g sa la r ies: 2 0 ,0 0 0 - 2 8 ,0 0 0 , w it h t h e a v er a g e a r ou n d 2 2 ,0 0 0 . Mid-lev el sa la r ies for lea d/pr in ciple en g in eer s w it h sev er a l y ea r s ex per ien ce: 3 5 ,0 0 0 - 5 0 ,0 0 0 . Ra n g e of t y pica l sa la r ies a t sen ior lev el/w it h ex per ien ce (e.g . a ft er 1 0 - 1 5 y ea r s in t h e r ole): 4 0 ,0 0 0 5 5 ,0 0 0 plu s. Sa la r ies v a r y fr om com pa n y t o com pa n y a n d som e sect or s a t t r a ct h ig h er sa la r ies, a ccor din g t o dem a n d. Fin a l sa la r ies m a y be a ffect ed by h ou r s of w or k . W or k in g h ou r s t y pica lly in clu de r eg u la r ex t r a h ou r s, bu t n ot u su a lly w eek en ds or sh ift s. T h e w or k is m a in ly office-ba sed w it h r eg u la r v isit s t o pla n t s/fa ct or ies/w or k sh op/bu ildin g sit es. Fa ct or y pr odu ct ion a r ea s ca n be n oisy . Self-em ploy m en t a n d fr eela n ce w or k a r e possible for qu a lified en g in eer s w it h a g ood t r a ck r ecor d a n d ex per ien ce. Sh or t -t er m con t r a ct w or k is a lso possible, oft en a r r a n g ed t h r ou g h a g en cies. It r em a in s t h e ca se t h a t few er w om en t h a n m en a r e becom in g ch a r t er ed en g in eer s (CEn g ). T h e n u m ber h a s r isen ov er t h e pa st few y ea r s bu t t h e per cen t a g e of w om en en g in eer s in t h e UK con t in u es t o be low er t h a n in ot h er Eu r opea n cou n t r ies. T h ose en t er in g t h e en g in eer in g pr ofession s do n ot en cou n t er specific
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Mechanical engineer

difficu lt ies bu t a r e u n der -r epr esen t ed in som e a r ea s, su ch a s m ot or spor t . Som e fir m s a n d or g a n isa t ion s, su ch a s W om en in t o Scien ce, En g in eer in g a n d Con st r u ct ion (W ISE) , a ct iv ely en cou r a g e fem a le en t r a n t s t o t h e pr ofession . W om en 's En g in eer in g Societ y (W ES) r u n s st u den t g r ou ps in som e u n iv er sit ies. Oppor t u n it ies a r e u su a lly a v a ila ble in t ow n s a n d cit ies t h a t h a v e a st r on g m a n u fa ct u r in g or r esea r ch ba se, or in r eg ion s w h er e t h er e is a loca l fa cilit y t h a t su ppor t s specia list en g in eer in g . W or k is oft en t o dea dlin es, pa r t icu la r ly in con su lt a n cy w or k . Dr ess code ca n v a r y fr om a su it a n d t ie for office-ba sed w or k t o a h a r d h a t a n d ov er a lls w h en w or k in g on sit e. T r a v el w it h in a w or k in g da y is fr equ en t . A bsen ce fr om h om e a t n ig h t a n d ov er sea s w or k or t r a v el m a y be r equ ir ed, depen din g on t h e em ploy er a n d n a t u r e of t h e bu sin ess. T h er e a r e m a n y oppor t u n it ies t o w or k a br oa d, pa r t icu la r ly t h r ou g h ou t Eu r ope a n d in A sia a n d t h e Middle Ea st . It is possible t o g a in pr ofession a l r ecog n it ion in ot h er Eu r opea n cou n t r ies a n d ch a r t er ed en g in eer s ca n a pply for Eu r opea n en g in eer st a t u s (Eu r In g ).

Entry requirements
T h is a r ea of w or k is open t o t h e follow in g en g in eer in g disciplin es: m ech a n ica l en g in eer in g ; en g in eer in g scien ce; a er on a u t ica l en g in eer in g ; a g r icu lt u r a l en g in eer in g ; com pu t er -a ided en g in eer in g ; m a n u fa ct u r in g en g in eer in g ; n u clea r en g in eer in g . A g ood h on ou r s deg r ee is u su a lly r equ ir ed, a lt h ou g h som e em ploy er s pla ce a s m u ch em ph a sis on g en er a l a n d people sk ills a n d com m er cia l a w a r en ess a s on cla ss of deg r ee. For ch a r t er ed st a t u s (CEn g ) h ow ev er , a n a ccr edit ed MEn g deg r ee or a n a ccept a ble com bin a t ion of ot h er a ca dem ic a w a r ds is essen t ia l. T h is cou ld in clu de a BEn g (Hon s) t h a t is a ccr edit ed for CEn g , plu s a n a ppr opr ia t e Ma st er s deg r ee or a ppr ov ed fu r t h er lea r n in g t o Ma st er s lev el. Som e em ploy er s r ecr u it on ly g r a du a t es bu t m a y con sider diplom a t es for t ech n ica l lev el post s. T ech n icia n t r a in in g ca n lea d t o ex per ien ce of dev elopm en t a n d desig n w or k a t a low er lev el. A n a lt er n a t iv e for h older s of a ccr edit ed HNDs is t o do a t op-u p cou r se t o con v er t t o a deg r ee, or t o u n der t a k e a m a t ch in g sect ion . T h is m a y be don e t h r ou g h a com bin a t ion of w or k a n d pa r t -t im e or dist a n ce-ba sed lea r n in g . It is t h en possible t o pr og r ess t o in cor por a t ed en g in eer (IEn g ) lev el. En t r y w it h ou t a deg r ee or HND is possible for people ov er 3 5 w h o h a v e a m in im u m of 1 5 y ea r s' ex per ien ce in en g in eer in g , in clu din g r espon sibilit y for m a n a g in g pr oject s. Con t a ct t h e In st it u t ion of Mech a n ica l En g in eer s (IMech E) or t h e In st it u t ion of En g in eer in g a n d T ech n olog y (IET ) for in for m a t ion on m a t u r e ca n dida t e sch em es. A pr e-en t r y post g r a du a t e qu a lifica t ion is n ot n eeded, a lt h ou g h a n MSc cou ld be h elpfu l. Pr e-en t r y ex per ien ce is n ot n eeded, a lt h ou g h a r elev a n t sa n dw ich or v a ca t ion pla cem en t ca n be a dv a n t a g eou s a n d is h ig h ly r ecom m en ded. Y ou m ig h t be a ble t o cou n t som e of t h e ex per ien ce g a in ed du r in g a sa n dw ich pla cem en t t ow a r ds qu a lify in g for CEn g st a t u s. V a ca t ion w or k , pla cem en t s a n d sa n dw ich cou r ses a ll pr ov ide ev iden ce of sk ill dev elopm en t a n d com m er cia l a w a r en ess. Pot en t ia l ca n dida t es w ill n eed t o sh ow ev iden ce of t h e follow in g : a h ig h lev el of t ech n ica l a n d scien t ific k n ow ledg e a n d t h e a bilit y t o a pply t h is k n ow ledg e t o pr a ct ica l pr oblem s; g ood or a l com m u n ica t ion sk ills a n d con fiden ce in dea lin g w it h a w ide r a n g e of people (clien t s, con t r a ct or s, desig n er s, dir ect or s or pla n t oper a t or s); pr ecise a n d con cise w r it t en com m u n ica t ion sk ills; t h e a bilit y t o w or k w ell w it h in a t ea m ; IT sk ills, pa r t icu la r ly com pu t er -a ided desig n ; cr ea t iv e a bilit y ; t h e a bilit y t o w or k u n der pr essu r e; or g a n isa t ion a l sk ills, su ch a s t im e a n d r esou r ce pla n n in g . Em ploy er s m a y a lso look for flu en cy in a secon d la n g u a g e. St a r t fin din g ou t a bou t em ploy er s befor e y ou r fin a l y ea r a n d m a k e con t a ct w it h t h em a t en g in eer in g r ecr u it m en t fa ir s/sh ow s. For fu ll in for m a t ion a n d g u ida n ce on en t r y r equ ir em en t s a n d t r a in in g r ou t es, con t a ct t h e r elev a n t pr ofession a l body (eit h er t h e IMech E or t h e IET ). For m or e in for m a t ion , see w or k ex per ien ce a n d in t er n sh ips a n d sea r ch cou r ses a n d r esea r ch .
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Mechanical engineer

Training
If y ou a r e a im in g for ch a r t er ed st a t u s (CEn g ), y ou sh ou ld ch eck t h a t a n y post y ou a ccept offer s t r a in in g a n d ex per ien ce a ccr edit ed by a n en g in eer in g in st it u t ion . Y ou w ill n eed t o u n der t a k e a pr og r a m m e of in it ia l pr ofession a l dev elopm en t a n d w ill be a ssig n ed a m en t or , w h o w ill m on it or y ou r pr og r ess in t h e ea r ly st a g es of y ou r en g in eer in g ca r eer . Most la r g e fir m s offer st r u ct u r ed t r a in in g a n d en cou r a g e pr ofession a l dev elopm en t . Usu a lly , fir m s offer in ser v ice t r a in in g a n d sh or t cou r ses for specific n eeds. Y ou r in -h ou se t r a in in g m a y in clu de pla cem en t s in differ en t depa r t m en t s t o br oa den y ou r ex per ien ce. Som e em ploy er s a r e u n a ble t o pr ov ide br oa d t r a in in g ex per ien ce t h em selv es, a n d it is w or t h ch eck in g w h a t a r r a n g em en t s t h ey h a v e in pla ce. T o g a in CEn g st a t u s, y ou w ill n eed t o su bm it a w r it t en r epor t a n d sa t isfy a n a ssessm en t pa n el t h a t y ou h a v e t h e sk ills, specia list k n ow ledg e a n d com pet en ce t o pr a ct ise a s a n en g in eer . It is possible t o a ch iev e CEn g or in cor por a t ed (IEn g ) st a t u s w it h in fou r t o six y ea r s a ft er g r a du a t ion . T h e In st it u t ion of Mech a n ica l En g in eer s (IMech E) ov er sees t h e Mon it or ed Pr ofession a l Dev elopm en t Sch em e (MPDS) lea din g t o CEn g st a t u s.

Career development
T h r ou g h ou t y ou r ca r eer , y ou w ill be r equ ir ed t o a dd t o y ou r ex per t ise t h r ou g h in -ser v ice t r a in in g a n d/or fu r t h er st u dy for a h ig h er deg r ee. Most ca r eer s in en g in eer in g lea d t o a sen ior posit ion w it h r espon sibilit y for ot h er st a ff a n d/or la r g er pr oject s a n d bu dg et s. T o pr og r ess in t h e pr ofession , it is becom in g in cr ea sin g ly im por t a n t t o a ch iev e pr ofession a l st a t u s a s a ch a r t er ed en g in eer (CEn g ). T h e En g in eer in g Cou n cil , in colla bor a t ion w it h t h e m a in en g in eer in g in st it u t ion s, h a s in t r odu ced r eg u la t ion s k n ow n a s UK St a n da r d for Pr ofession a l En g in eer in g Com pet en ce (UK-SPEC) .T h ese a ffect a ll g r a du a t es a spir in g t o a ch iev e CEn g st a t u s. A s com pa n ies oper a t e in a n in cr ea sin g ly in t er n a t ion a l m a r k et , t h e Eu r opea n en g in eer (Eu r In g ) st a t u s a n d a ddit ion a l la n g u a g e sk ills w ill becom e a dist in ct a dv a n t a g e if y ou w ish t o pr og r ess fu r t h er in t h e pr ofession . A ll ch a r t er ed en g in eer s a r e elig ible t o a pply for Eu r In g st a t u s. Ma n y m ech a n ica l en g in eer s decide t o dev elop a ddit ion a l sk ills, for ex a m ple in bu sin ess, so t h a t t h ey ca n g et in v olv ed w it h la r g er pr oject s a n d t a k e on g r ea t er r espon sibilit y . Good com m er cia l a w a r en ess is essen t ia l for ca r eer dev elopm en t , a s w ell a s dev elopin g people m a n a g em en t sk ills, a s m a n y en g in eer s w ill be r equ ir ed t o lea d t ea m s or m a n a g e pr oject s. Som e m ech a n ica l en g in eer s m ov e in t o bu sin ess fu n ct ion s, su ch a s pr ocu r em en t , sa les a n d m a r k et in g or h u m a n r esou r ces (HR). Ot h er s w ill dev elop t h eir t ech n ica l sk ills a n d look t o m ov e in t o sen ior en g in eer in g post s, su ch a s en g in eer in g dir ect or . A n ot h er ca r eer pa t h cou ld in v olv e m ov in g in t o en g in eer in g con su lt a n cy .

Employers and vacancy sources

It is h a r d t o t h in k of a n in du st r y t h a t m ech a n ica l en g in eer s a r e n ot in v olv ed in ; m ech a n ica l en g in eer in g h a s u su a lly pla y ed a pa r t in a lm ost a ll t h e pr odu ct s a n d ser v ices w e see a r ou n d u s. Mech a n ica l en g in eer s a r e lik ely t o be r ecr u it ed in t o t h e follow in g t y pes of in du st r ies: a er ospa ce a n d a u t om ot iv e in du st r ies; t h e a r m ed for ces a n d t h e Min ist r y of Defen ce, e.g . t h e Defen ce En g in eer in g a n d Scien ce Gr ou p (DESG); en er g y u t ilit ies, in clu din g n u clea r ; con st r u ct ion a n d bu ildin g ser v ices; en g in eer in g con su lt a n cies; g ov er n m en t a g en cies; m a n u fa ct u r in g in du st r ies; m edica l en g in eer in g ; oil a n d g a s in du st r ies, in clu din g pet r och em ica l in du st r ies; pr ocess in du st r ies, in clu din g ph a r m a ceu t ica ls, food a n d cosm et ics; t h e pu blic sect or , in clu din g t h e Civ il Ser v ice, loca l a u t h or it ies, h ospit a ls a n d edu ca t ion a l in st it u t ion s; r esea r ch est a blish m en t s, bot h a ca dem ic a n d com m er cia l; spor t s en g in eer in g ; t r a n spor t , in clu din g r oa d a n d r a ilw a y s.

Sources of vacancies
Sea r ch g r a du a t e jobs on t h is sit e. T h e Da ily T eleg r a ph Jobs - T h u r sda y s. T h e En g in eer Jobs En g in eer in g Oppor t u n it ies (EO) En g in eer in g Roles Gr a dcr a ck er In side Ca r eer s: En g in eer in g a n d T ech n olog y Ju st En g in eer s Pr ofession a l En g in eer in g
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Mechanical engineer

Mech a n ica l En g in eer in g New Scien t ist Jobs GET En g in eer in g T A RGET jobs En g in eer in g A r m ed for ces ca r eer s offices. Loca l a n d r eg ion a l pr ess. Recr u it m en t a g en cies a dv er t ise v a ca n cies a n d a lso h a n dle con t r a ct v a ca n cies, pa r t icu la r ly for ex per ien ced en g in eer s. Get t ips on job h u n t in g , CV s a n d cov er in g let t er s a n d in t er v iew s.

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W r it t en by A GCA S edit or s Da t e: Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 1 Copy r ig h t A GCA S & Gr a du a t e Pr ospect s Lt d | Discla im er

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