Job Role Description

IT and Engineering > Mechanical Engineer

Salary National Average

Low Medium High
77630.0000 89730.0000 102950.0000

Supply and Demand

Candidate Supply: 13,731 Job Openings: 2,742

0 50 100

More Difficult Less Difficult

Salary Variance

Enter City, State to view local salaries and candidate demand.

Short Description:

Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.

Duties / Responsibilities:

  • Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
  • Assist drafters in developing product structural design using drafting tools, computer-assisted design (CAD), or drafting equipment and software.
  • Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, and maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems, and processes to meet requirements, applying knowledge of engineering principles.
  • Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
  • Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
  • Conduct research that tests or analyzes equipment, components, or systems' feasibility, design, operation, or performance.
  • Investigate equipment failures and difficulties to diagnose faulty operations and make recommendations to the maintenance crew.
  • Develop and test models of alternate designs and processing methods to assess feasibility, operating condition effects, possible new applications, and the necessity of modification.
  • Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including the selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
  • Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design and performance specifications.

Skills / Requirements / Qualifications

  • Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  • Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  • Active Learning: Understanding new information's implications for current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Job Zones

  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Related Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. 
  • Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, or vocational training.
  • Job Zone Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, sales managers, database administrators, teachers, chemists, environmental engineers, criminal investigators, and special agents.
  • Specific Vocational Preparation in years: 2-4 years of preparation (7.0 to < 8.0)

Share Role Details

Return to job listings