Mechanical Engineer

In this career guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about mechanical engineering as a career, from roles and responsibilities, to work environment and roadmap to becoming a Mechanical Engineer.

Who's a Mechanical Engineer?

Do you love being around machines? Do you find yourself opening up and trying to figure out how different machines work? Do you someday wish to build your own machine? If so, consider a career in mechanical engineering.

Mechanical engineering must be as old as the invention of the wheel. After all, the wheel was a ‘machine’ that man thought up and invented to solve a problem! Well, mechanical engineers do exactly that! They invent machines to make human life easier. As a mechanical engineer, you will also maintain and improve these machines over time for more efficiency.

Mechanical engineers are not just relevant in their industry. Every industry requires their help. Heavy industries like steel, chemical, pharmaceuticals and transport, as well as the service industry rely on machines. Even primary sector activities like farming and animal rearing require tools and equipment.

Responsibilities

What will you do?

Studying and analysing products.

Before you begin the actual building work, you will have to study existing products and systems to understand them better before working on modifications or new products.

Example: You would not be able to build mixer grinder if you didn’t understand what its basic function is and what people used a mortar and pestle for.

Conducting research and development.

You will also be involved in analysing problems and developing solutions. Here, you might not have to physically work on machines but the technicalities behind them.

Example: Before building a simple machine like a ceiling fan, you will first have to understand and analyse all of the parts that will go into it like the blades the motor, etc.

 

Designing products.

You will have to understand the problem you are trying to solve and then design or better an existing product to create the new machinery.

Example: You would build rotary machines at complex power plants.

Manufacturing systems and machines.

Some mechanical engineers may work on the manufacturing end. Here, you would physically create products theorised in laboratories.

Example: Just like a backend developer converting wireframes into code, you will give life to the products that others theorise.

Maintaining systems.

As a mechanical engineer, you don’t just get to build systems. You would also have to look into the installation, repair and maintenance of these machines.

Example: You would ensure that the motors are well-oiled on the machines that you create.

 

Overseeing system and project management.

You will supervise the operations of complex systems. These may be power plants, heavy metal manufacturing plants or others.

Example: While you will be involved in creating the machine, there will be other juniors helping you whom you must guide and manage.

Making reports and presentations.

This is part of corporate operations. You will have to make detailed reports of your experiments and findings, and present it to industry experts or the common public.

Example: If you discover ways to innovate a machine or a system, you must create a report about it. How it will be bettered, whom it helps, the cost, efficiency, requirements, etc.

Take the Mentoria career assessment test, to find out how well-suited you are as a Mechanical Engineer.

Workplace

Where will you work?

Factories

This is where you will do all of the grunt work - creating machines, aiding in testing and maintenance, etc.

Research Labs

Here, you will build theory and analyse the machines created. You will research on problems of existing machines and think of ways to innovate. 

On-site

If you’re working on heavy-duty machinery, you may have to work wherever the machine needs to be set up.

Education

How do you get there?

This stream won’t help you make an entry into this field.

This stream won’t help you make an entry into this field.

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

Pursue science in junior college and make sure to pick Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as your subjects.

STEP 2: Entrance Exams

Take an entrance exam to get into a graduate college for Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. The entrance exam you attempt depends on the college you apply to. The MH-CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test), JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) and AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Examination) are the most commonly accepted ones. There are also other private entrances like the BITSAT (Birla Institute of Technology & Science Admission Test).

You will need a minimum of 50% marks in Class 12 to be eligible for these exams. You can also aim for the IITs with the JEE Advanced. Your qualification here will depend on your rank in the JEEs.

STEP 3: Graduation

Pursue a four-year Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) or Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech.) from colleges like Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Jadavpur University, etc. Pick mechanical engineering as your specialisation. Alternatively, you could also opt for a three-year diploma in engineering instead of a degree.

STEP 4: Internship

Never miss a chance to do an internship! It gives you fantastic practical experience and helps you network within the industry. You can work with manufacturing firms. If you perform well, you can also convert your internship into a full-time job after your graduation!

STEP 5: Land a Job

Now that you’ve interned and earned your degree, all you need is to apply for a job. This is a highly technical career, so you will have to make learning on the job your priority. You could work with government agencies like ONGC, Coal India and GAIL. You could also try for private companies like Apple, Larsen and Toubro, Siemens, Godrej, Microsoft, Ford, Jindal Steel Works, and more! Congratulations you’re now officially a mechanical engineer!

STEP 6: Post-graduation

You can pursue an MSc, MTech or ME for further education, especially if you wish to pursue research and development in this field. If you are looking to get promoted to managerial positions, an MBA is a good idea. These postgraduate degrees usually last for two years.

 

Thinking of a career as a Mechanical Engineer? Take the Mentoria assessment test & talk to our career counsellors to get personalized step-by-step guidance for your future career path.

What skills would you need?

Analytical and Data Skills

Analytical and Data Skills

You will receive huge amounts of data from your client. This data will have to be analysed effectively so you can find ways that will help your client reach their customers is the best way possible. While it is true that the more data you analyse, the more insights you generate; analytical thinking will help you narrow down your search and find your key actionable items, thus saving you a lot of time and resources.

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Problem-solving Skills

Problem-solving Skills

Patients will be coming to you with different issues with fertility. You must be able to assess their problem, analyse the reason and work on coming up with a solution.

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Technical Skills

Technical Skills

You will be frequently using accounting software and other financial tools as many CAs need to work with technology to analyse data and prepare financial reports. build this skill
Creative Skills

Creative Skills

As a marketer, you need to get people hooked on your brand. This requires you to come up with fun, entertaining, and exceptional ways to engage your audience. There is a lot of competition in the market, and the only way to be on top is by constantly doing something new and innovative.

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Communication Skills

Communication Skills

It’s harder than ever to get people’s attention, what with so much information being thrown at them. But, people cannot resist a good story. Every good marketing campaign has a story to tell their customers and relate to them on an emotional level. Marketers who tell great stories through their marketing campaigns are always in great demand.

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Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

Working with eggs and embryos is a very tedious task. Every little detail matters when you are observing them. If you are good at giving attention to detail, then your job at the laboratory will be made much easier.

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Promotion levels

How do you make it to the top ranks?

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Machine Operator

As the name suggests, your primary job as a mechanical engineer will include operating heavy machinery as well as installing equipment, maintenance, performing tests and repairs.

Quality Inspector

As you move up the ladder, your most crucial task involves inspecting the installation, repairs, and maintenance of machinery. You have to conduct periodic tests to ensure that the machines run smoothly.

Mechanical Design Analyst

As a mechanical analyst, you are required to design several mechanical devices as well as develop and test prototypes of these designs. You are also involved in the redesign process if any changes are required.

Mechanical Design Analyst

As a mechanical analyst, you are required to design several mechanical devices as well as develop and test prototypes of these designs. You are also involved in the redesign process if any changes are required.

Production Head

Production managers ensure that every process runs reliably and efficiently. They not only oversee the operations of the engineering team but also coordinate with the sales and marketing staff.

Plant Head

In this role, you must oversee all daily operations of the plant from mechanical device installation and maintenance to production and manufacturing. You must ensure that all policies and procedures are followed while maximising quality and productivity.

Head of Operations

At the top level, you are responsible for the overall management of the mechanical engineering department, including both administrative and technical aspects. Hereon, you can even become the CEO or President of the company.

Scope

Pursuing your career locally VS abroad

As the world is relying on machines more than ever, the demand for mechanical engineers has increased. In a fast-developing third-world country like India, the expertise of a skilled mechanical engineer is required in industries like automobile, aviation, automation, biomedical engineering, energy conservation, nanotechnology, etc. Most aspiring mechanical engineers in India pursue Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering, studying for a duration of four-five years, followed by an additional two years of post-graduation. The average cost of post-graduation ranges from INR 9,600 to INR 5,44,000 lakhs depending on the college you pick, while a Bachelor’s programme costs anywhere between INR 20,000 to INR 15,00,000.

There is also a demand for skilled mechanical engineers from India in foreign countries. Qualified professionals with post-graduate degrees from India’s prestigious institutes have great opportunities for work abroad. Additionally, working with India’s leading multi-nationals also provides opportunities for working on several offshore projects. As for studying this course internationally, countries like the US, UK, and Canada are a mechanical engineer’s best options with courses starting from INR 20,00,000. Students mainly have to appear for exams like IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE to be eligible to study abroad.

Payscale

How much would you get paid?

The exact number will depend on where you’re working, your education, skill-set and internship experience. But we can give you a general idea. 


Specialisations

What are your career options?

Mechanical Design

As a designer, you will be responsible for drafting the technical designs of machines, either manually or with the use of computers. This task could include product design, which includes products that use any kind of mechanical motion, or machine design, which includes the building of systems that improve the efficiency of tasks while yielding majority output.

Mechanical Manufacturing & Production

These are the most basic kind of mechanical engineers whose job it is to develop machines that process raw materials into finished products. You will supervise the manufacturing of mechanical components or complete machines, install them at the designated locations, and ensure their smooth functioning for maximised profitability.

Research and Development

Some mechanical engineers prefer to work backstage while developing ideas for mechanical innovation. You will conduct research on the mechanical components used in machines and find new and more effective ways to maximise the output of the machine. Your inventions usher in a new era of mechanical innovation, thus adhering to the changing landscape.

Mechanical Management & Maintenance

Mechanical engineers are also required in supervising the operations of the plant, as a whole. Besides ensuring that all machinery is up-to-date and functioning smoothly, you must also overlook the operations of the entire plant, ensure that all manufacturing and production policies and procedures are followed and take steps to maximise the output from all operations.

Mechanical Analysis & Testing

There are special mechanical engineers who might not be a part of the design and development process but overlook the testing of machines. You will conduct periodic analysis of all machines, ensuring that they can run smoothly, while also working on any kind of machinery breakdown with mechanical designers for their re-designs.

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