Mechanical Engineering is extremely versatile when it comes to career choices post graduate studies. The industrial sectors in which a Mechanical Engineer can serve are not limited to the following:
- Oil and Gas
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Power Generation
- Chemical process
- Renewable Energy
- Machining and Fabrication
- Robotics
- Education and Research
With the sheer number of sectors ready to absorb Mechanical Engineers, it is extremely unlikely for students not to find jobs short time after they graduate.
The following segment is about nature of Mechanical Engineering jobs, the required skills and the advertised job roles.
Design
Skills Required:
CAD, CAE, FEA, Heat Transfer, Stress Analysis, Thermofluids
Job Roles
- Structural Engineer
- CFD Engineer
- Design Engineer
- HVAC Engineer
- Piping Engineer
Maintenance
Skills Required:
Machine Design, Engineering Systems, Control and Instrumentation
Job Roles
- Power Engineer
- Maintenance Engineer
- Systems Engineer
Production
Skills Required:
Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics, Production/ Operation Management
Job Roles
- Production Engineer
- Fabrication Engineer
- Drilling Engineer
Planning
Skills Required:
Project Management, Spread Sheet Calculations
Job Roles
- Project Engineer
- Logistics Engineer
- Project Manager
Sales and Others
Skills Required:
Spread Sheet Calculations, Modelling and Simulation
Job Roles
- Quality Manager
- Safety, Health and Environment Manager
- Financial Forecaster
- Sales Engineer
Many successful Mechanical Engineer will inform graduating students to look for jobs first. i.e. they should not look to pursue post-graduate studies. As there are so many sectors to choose from and a variety of roles, it is important for graduates to find their feet in the industry and select and area where they think they can excel. Unless students are looking to complete doctorate studies (PhD), enrolling immediately for a post-graduate program is not advisable in many cases. This is because often job experience is more desirable to employers than a post-graduate degree.
Many Engineering students like white-collar jobs and would like to design or analyse objects on a computers. Others like more hands on experience and are content with jobs in machine jobs or roles overlooking production lines. Whatever the case, once a particular area has been identified and reasonable experience gained a student should then look to specialize in that particular area through post-graduate studies.
This infograhic is basic but does provide a good snapshot information on Mechanical Engineering Job Roles
Please feel free to share this article using the buttons below.
More Infographics
Career Pathway for a Renewable Energy Engineer
Career Pathway for an Electrical Engineer