Job description template
Mechanical Engineer Job Description
Mechanical engineer job description: roles and responsibilities in design, CAD, testing and manufacturing support, plus skills, degree and PE requirements.
The role in brief
A mechanical engineer researches, designs, builds and tests mechanical and thermal devices, from machine parts and consumer products to engines, HVAC systems and manufacturing equipment. They analyse a problem, model a solution in CAD, check it with calculations and simulation, build and test prototypes, and then work with manufacturing to make the design producible at the right cost and quality. They also diagnose why equipment fails and redesign it. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering fields, so most roles specialise by product or industry. Entry needs a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology, usually from an accredited programme; a Professional Engineer (PE) licence is optional at entry level but required to offer engineering services to the public.
- Turn product or system requirements into concepts, then into detailed designs, 3D models and 2D drawings in CAD
- Apply geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T, for example ASME Y14.5) so parts fit and function when manufactured
- Run engineering calculations and simulations such as stress, deflection, fatigue, thermal and fluid flow analysis (FEA or CFD where needed)
- Select materials, fasteners, bearings, motors and other components, and work with suppliers on specifications
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Applying for a role like this? Practise the assessment free →Responsibilities
- Turn product or system requirements into concepts, then into detailed designs, 3D models and 2D drawings in CAD
- Apply geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T, for example ASME Y14.5) so parts fit and function when manufactured
- Run engineering calculations and simulations such as stress, deflection, fatigue, thermal and fluid flow analysis (FEA or CFD where needed)
- Select materials, fasteners, bearings, motors and other components, and work with suppliers on specifications
- Build and test prototypes, plan test procedures, analyse results and iterate the design
- Investigate equipment and field failures, find root causes and implement corrective design changes
- Support manufacturing with design for manufacture and assembly, tooling and fixture input, and production issue resolution
- Prepare bills of materials, engineering change orders and technical documentation under the team's change control process
- Integrate sensors, controllers and machinery with electrical and software engineers
- Contribute to design reviews, risk analysis (such as DFMEA) and cost estimates
Required skills
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Nice to have
Qualifications
- 1Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology, preferably from an accredited programme
- 2Design experience in your product area, through employment, co-op or internships (set the years to the level you are hiring for)
- 3Portfolio or examples of designs taken from concept to tested prototype or production
- 4PE licence required only if the role signs off designs or offers engineering services directly to the public
- 5Master's degree preferred for some simulation, research and development roles
Work environment
Work environment
Career growth
Mechanical engineers progress to senior, lead and principal engineer roles, or into engineering management after gaining experience. Others specialise in simulation, reliability, manufacturing or quality engineering, or move into product and project management. A PhD is usually needed for faculty and some research roles.
Common questions
What are the roles and responsibilities of a mechanical engineer?
A mechanical engineer designs mechanical and thermal systems in CAD, checks designs with calculations and simulation, builds and tests prototypes, diagnoses failures and supports manufacturing. They also select materials and components, write the documentation that manufacturing and suppliers work from, and manage design changes. The weighting differs by role: a design engineer spends most time in CAD and analysis, while a manufacturing engineer spends more time on the production floor.
Does a mechanical engineer need a PE licence?
Not for entry-level or most in-house product roles. A PE licence is required to offer engineering services directly to the public and lets an engineer sign off on projects, which matters most in building services (HVAC, plumbing, fire protection) and consulting. The usual route is an accredited degree, passing the FE exam, typically at least four years of relevant experience and then the PE exam in Mechanical.
What is the difference between mechanical engineering and mechanical engineering technology?
Mechanical engineering degrees lean towards theory, analysis and design. Mechanical engineering technology degrees lean towards applied, hands-on work such as testing, manufacturing and implementation. Both can lead to engineering jobs; if a role is mostly prototyping, testing or manufacturing support, consider accepting either in your job description.
What CAD software should a mechanical engineer know?
List the system your team uses, such as SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA, NX or Inventor. Engineers fluent in one package usually learn another, so GD&T knowledge and the ability to produce drawings a machinist can build from matter more than the specific package.
How do you screen mechanical engineer applicants?
Use a short task drawn from your real work: review a part drawing with planted tolerance and manufacturability problems, propose a fix for a bracket that failed in fatigue testing, or sketch and justify a concept for a simple mechanism. Then ask them to walk through a design they owned from requirement to test, including what failed and what they changed.
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