Fascinated with engines
and machines of all kinds?
Well-organized and detail-oriented?
Mechanical engineering technicians
work with machines in all sorts of ways—
from helping create new designs…
to developing models
and testing them…
to manufacturing and operating
finished machines.
Often working with instructions
from mechanical engineers,
these technicians use 3-D design software,
or sometimes paper and pencil,
to make sketches of parts to be made,
and of the process for putting parts together.
To help determine
the viability of producing parts,
mechanical engineering technicians
estimate labor costs, length of equipment life,
and plant space needed for production.
Based on their designs,
they plan and produce
new mechanical parts
or make changes to existing products.
Precision is critical—
so products and equipment
are tested and results are compared
with original design specifications.
When issues are uncovered,
mechanical engineering technicians
work with engineers
to eliminate production problems.
These technicians work primarily
for engineering firms
and manufacturing facilities
on products such as flight simulators
and control panels.
Some work in research labs.
Most work full time.
Employers prefer candidates
with an associate’s degree or certificate
in mechanical engineering technology.
Taking science and math courses
in high school is helpful.