Career Overview
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Also Known As
- Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech)
- Mechanical Designer
- Mechanical Technician (Mechanical Tech)
- Research and Development Technician (R and D Tech)
Alternate Job Titles
- Apparatus Engineering Technologist
- Automation Design Checker
- Brinell Tester
- Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST)
- Computer-Aided Design Designer
- Development Technician
- Electrical Mechanical Maintenance Technician
- Engineering Aide
- Engineering Analyst
- Engineering Data Analyst
- Engineering Drawings Checker
- Engineering Laboratory Technician (Engineering Lab Technician)
- Engineering Technical Analyst
- Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech)
- Engineering Technologist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.
- Interpret engineering sketches, specifications, or drawings.
- Calculate required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submit data to engineering personnel for approval.
- Review project instructions and blueprints to ascertain test specifications, procedures, and objectives, and test nature of technical problems such as redesign.
- Provide technical support to other employees regarding mechanical design, fabrication, testing, or documentation.
- Test machines, components, materials, or products to determine characteristics such as performance, strength, or response to stress.
- Draft detail drawing or sketch for drafting room completion or to request parts fabrication by machine, sheet or wood shops.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Engineering and Technology
- Mechanical
- Design
- Mathematics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Information Ordering
- Oral Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Category Flexibility
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Innovation
- Intellectual Curiosity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk Revit
- Bentley MicroStation
- C++
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Tools & Equipment
- Absorption dynamometers
- Accelerometers
- Adjustable wrenches
- Air compressors
- Analytical balances
- Anemometers
- Angle grinders
- Arc welding equipment
- Arc-joint pliers
- Band saws
- Belt sanders
- Bench grinders
- Bend test fixtures
- Binocular compound microscopes
- Bore gauges
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Telephone Conversations
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $46,940 |
| Median | $68,730 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $100,890 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 37,450
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Calibration Technologists and Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $65,040
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $77,180
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $79,830
Robotics Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $70,760
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Some College Courses
Median Salary: $64,790
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.