What the work is
A mechanical engineer designs, sets up and maintains machines and equipment: machine tools, pumps, conveyors, parts of cars and farm machinery. They calculate loads and strength, choose materials, prepare drawings and 3D models, work out why things break and plan repairs so that equipment stands idle as little as possible.
A typical day
A walk round the shop floor with the supervisor to check the equipment. Investigating a failure: why a bearing wore out early. Working in CAD on a drawing for a new part or fixture. Agreeing the planned-maintenance schedule with production and ordering spare parts. Writing up the technical documentation.
How to start
- Strengthen the basics: mechanics, strength of materials, technical drawing, tolerances and fits.
- Learn a CAD package (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, KOMPAS-3D or similar).
- Do internships in production: knowing real equipment is valued as much as calculations.
- Learn occupational safety and the basics of condition-based maintenance.
Related professions
Quality engineer, production technologist, power engineer, occupational safety engineer.