A mechanical engineer designs and develops various machines that could be dealing with the manufacturing of heavy parts or even small but sensitive pieces of instruments. Mechanical engineering deals with the complete process of the production of instruments. Some examples of products that need a mechanical engineer’s expertise are printers, disk drives, prosthetic devices, semiconductor tools, robots and heavy machineries like turbines, engines and transformers.
Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest disciplines in engineering, and the areas where it is involved in a major way are mechatronics and nanotechnology. Other industries that influences on mechanical engineering include metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering and electrical engineering.
In this blog, we will explore the role of a mechanical engineer, the responsibilities that come with the profile and the career prospects.
What is the Role of Mechanical Engineer?
The role of a mechanical engineer can be broken down into the following:
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Analyse the problem to find out how a machine can solve the problem
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Design or redesign devices
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Develop and test prototypes
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Analyse test results
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Oversee the manufacturing process
A Mechanical Engineer has a key role to play in many other industries. They can be appointed in other job profiles such as:
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Automotive Research Engineer
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Heating and Cooling Systems Engineer
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Robotics Engineer
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Materials Engineer
Mechanical Engineer Job Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a mechanical engineer depend on the size and type of the employer. They mostly work on the components and equipment for different industries like healthcare, power, transport, and water.
The various job responsibilities can be segregated into the following roles:
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Taking stock of project requirements
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Measuring the performance of mechanical components
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Approving budgets, timescales and specifications
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Maintaining, modifying equipment
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Liaising with suppliers
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Conducting required research
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Evaluating and modifying products
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Writing reports and documents
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Providing technical advice.
Skills of a Mechanical Engineer
There are certain skills that are required to study mechanical engineering and establish oneself as a professional in this field. Some of these key skills are:
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Technical aptitude
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Ability to work under pressure
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Problem-solving skills
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Creativity and innovation
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Interpersonal skills
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Verbal and written communication
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Ability to work in and lead a team.
Qualification Required
A mechanical engineer needs to have a certain level of qualification. They need to be graduates in relevant subjects or areas of study like mechanics, automobiles, aeronautics and manufacturing. Mechanical engineering aspirants also opt for advanced degrees from engineering colleges like NIET in Greater Noida.
Some work experience also helps in understanding the finer concepts better.
The eligibility criteria to become a mechanical engineer are:
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The candidate should have passed 10+2 from a recognized institution with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as the main subjects.
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To secure admission in MTech in Mechanical Engineering, the candidate needs to be a graduate with 50% score.
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Several colleges also conduct admissions based on scores in the entrance exams.
Also read: The Importance of Best B.Tech Engineering College for a Prosperous Career
Mechanical Engineering Career Scope in Future
A mechanical engineer has a role to play in several sectors because of the requirement of heavy and small machineries in various functions. Some of the major sectors where mechanical engineers have a good scope for job opportunities include:
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Aerospace Industries.
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Automotive Industries.
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Construction and Building Services
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Indian Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence
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Manufacturing Industries
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Engineering Consultancies
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Energy Utilities &
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Government Agencies
Role of different job profiles of mechanical engineer that are relevant across industries.
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Aerospace Engineer: It is a profile that deals with the maintenance and manufacturing of aircraft and airports keeping in consideration the technical aspects involved.
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Maintenance Engineer: The role of a maintenance engineer is to keep a check of the functioning of the machines and equipment. To check the continuous running of the machinery and equipment, maintenance engineers are hired.
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Automotive Engineer: Designing and development of mechanical components and machines related to automobiles is the functionality of an automotive engineer. An automotive engineer typically focuses on research and development, design and production.
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Control and Instrumentation Engineer: Often referred as CI Engineer, these are professionals that deal with the designing, development, installation, management, and maintenance of equipment that are used for monitoring and controlling machines and systems involved in the work of engineering.
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Contracting Civil Engineer: A contracting civil engineer is the one who deals with the consultancy involved in the field of construction and designing of projects like buildings, highway construction, dams and canals construction, etc. They are responsible for checking the ongoing on-site construction and work in conjunction with consulting engineers.
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Nuclear Engineer: This role involves providing technical support to nuclear power stations, designing, building, running and dismantling machinery. Some related job profiles are reactor operator, process engineer, quality engineer, project manager or instrumentation and control engineer.
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Mechanical Engineer: They are responsible for designing, crafting, developing, maintaining and managing machinery and equipment. A mechanical engineer also takes care of designing, production, analysis, and testing. They also have an important role to play in the installation, maintenance, and structural engineering functions.
Also read: Mechanical Engineering: A Good Career Choice, Undoubtedly
Major recruiters
The prominent companies that hire mechanical engineers during campus interviews and via other placement opportunities include:
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Honda
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Capgemini
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Bharat Electronics Limited
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Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
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Tata Group
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National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO)
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Larsen & Toubro
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BOSCH India
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Coal India Limited (CIL)
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Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
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Indian Oil Corporation Limited
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Thyssen Krupp
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Godrej
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ThermaxSiemens
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Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
Starting Salary of Mechanical Engineer in India
A mechanical engineer’s salary depends on the educational and professional qualifications. On several occasions, the pay package is also determined according to the individual skill set.
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Designation
Salary
Aerospace Engineer
Maintenance Engineer
Automotive Engineer
Instrumentation Engineer
Civil Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Rs 8.19 Lakh
Rs 4.14 Lakh
Rs 5.11 Lakh
Rs 4.96 Lakh
Rs 4.94 Lakh
Rs 5.48 Lakh
A degree for Many Roles
After having explored the many facets of mechanical engineering the conclusion that we can draw is that the degree has relevance across sectors and can help you get placed in senior positions too. The world has seen many advancements in software and automation, but mechanical engineering still has an important role to play. Even the most advanced and complex technologies rely on machinery. Hence, it is given that mechanical engineers too will remain relevant and sought-after for many years to come.
Join NIET for the Best Mechanical Engineering Degree
NIET’s Mechanical Engineering program has been accredited by NAAC and NBA. The department has been ranked 20th in the country by Silicon India. NIET Greater Noida offers academic and industry-oriented research. The faculty members have served on the editorial boards of national and international journals. They review technical articles regularly and even organise skill development programmes, seminars and conferences.
NIET offers students several labs for engineering students in topics like Applied Robotics, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things, Mobile Applications, Data Science, Automation, Clinical Research and Product Design. NIET’s Mechanical Engineering program has an excellent placement record too.
So, check out NIET’s programs and apply now for securing a mechanical engineering degree.
Also read: Top 10 Reasons to Join NIET Institute for Successful Career Path