Important Job Skills for Mechanical Engineers

Important Job Skills for Mechanical Engineers Important Job Skills for Mechanical Engineers A  career in mechanical engineering  is both highly lucrative and altruistically rewarding.  Engineers must have a good education and training. Therefore, a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (or mechanical engineering technology) is required. Many mechanical engineers also have a master’s degree or higher (such as a Ph.D.)  in mechanical engineering. Certain jobs in mechanical engineering also require a license. What Are Mechanical Engineer Skills? Mechanical engineers design, build, and test mechanical devices such as tools, engines, and machines. Considered the broadest engineering discipline, mechanical engineers work in engineering services, research facilities, manufacturing industries, and the federal government.   A mechanical engineer should have particular  hard skills, including a strong understanding of industry standards and excellent computer skills, because much time is spent designing, simulating, and testing. In addition, mechanical engineers should have  soft skills, such as strong analytical thinking and communication capabilities.   What Kind of Skills Do You Need to be a Mechanical Engineer? Problem Solving A big part of a mechanical engineer’s job is solving problems using mechanical or thermal devices. Mechanical engineers need to be strong analytical thinkers who are capable of solving problems brought to them by clients or employers. Analytical ThinkingAnalyze Test Results and Adjust Design if NeededDevelop and Test PrototypesDesign Mechanical Device ProjectsDetail OrientedDevelop Design CalculationsEnsure Designs Meet Legal Guidelines and Safety RequirementsIdentify Potential Design ImprovementsKnowledgeable of Machining and Fabrication ProcessPerform Equipment and System CalculationsProduct Validation ExperienceProvide Cost Estimates for Materials, Equipment, and/or LaborResearch Materials for Future Design Opportunities and Usage Sound Knowledge of Engineering FundamentalsTest Building MaterialsTroubleshoot Equipment to Solve ProblemsWork to Improve and Maintain Existing Products Creativity Mechanical engineering involves developing and designing products, which range from batteries to electric generators to medical devices. Inventing products involves a lot of creativity, as does figuring out how to bring projects home within challenging timeframes. 3D (Computer Aided Design) CADComplete Assigned Tasks Within Time and Cost RestraintsConvert Basic Design Information and Requirements into Working DrawingsCreate Blueprints Using CAD (Computer Aided Design)Develop Project Scope and TimelineDrafting Standards and Geometric, Dimension, Tolerancing (GDT)Prepare Designs and Estimates Communication and Leadership Often, mechanical engineers develop a product for a client. They may have to explain complex machines or devices to people who are not familiar with mechanical engineering. They have to be able to explain their ideas clearly and effectively, and this takes strong  communication  skills. They also frequently leverage their communication talents to take the lead of mechanical design and manufacturing projects. Clearly Explain Design IdeasComfortable Writing Technical ReportsMake Regular Site VisitsManage and Monitor Each Stage of ProjectOversee Project Manufacturing ProcessPrepare Conclusion and Analysis ReportsRead and Interpret Drawings and SpecificationsRecommend Modifications for Design Improvements and SimplificationStrong PresenterUse Notes, Sketches, and Verbal Instructions to Complete Project DesignWrite and Maintain Operating Procedures and Standards Teamwork Mechanical engineering involves lots of  teamwork. Engineers often work in groups to invent technologies and solve problems. They might work with people that are not mechanical engineers, such as computer scientists or architects. As such, they need to be able to work with a diverse team of people to solve problems. Assemble Project DeliverablesAssist with Field and Manufacturing ProblemsAssist with Shipping of Equipment Prior to DeploymentProactive and Willing to Take on New ChallengesWork Effectively Under Pressure Math and Computer Mechanical engineers need to be comfortable using math to solve problems. The math skills required in mechanical engineering include calculus and statistics. They must be adept in applying these skills to analyze problems  and design solutions. AutoCADAutomated Model ProgrammingCAD (Computer Aided Design)Engineering Product Data Management Software (EPDM)Microsoft Office Suite ExperiencePro-E CREO Computer Aided Design SoftwareUnderstand Diagrams, Drafts, Flow-Charts, and Other Information and DocumentationUse Software to Design Within Industry and Government Standards More Mechanical Engineer Skills Ability to Clarify and ParaphraseComputer ScienceComplianceInductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningDesignEnvironmental AwarenessWritten CommunicationVerbal CommunicationEntrepreneurshipIndependent ThinkingInvestigationOngoing ImprovementOrganizationProject ManagementStrategic PlanningStatisticsData AnalysisStructural AnalysisCausal RelationshipsCollaborationDiagnosticEvaluatingIntegrationJudgmentOptimizationPolicy Resume Example Review a resume sample for a mechanical engineer with tips and advice for what to include. How to Make Your Skills Stand Out Add Your Most Relevant Skills to Your Resume: Employers now frequently employ automated  applicant tracking systems  as a first stage in their candidate search process. These systems are programmed to search for industry-specific keyword phrases. If your resume doesn’t include these keywords, it may be immediately screened out of consideration.Highlight Your Skills in Your Cover Letter:  As mentioned above, be sure to include your industry-specific keywords in the body of your  cover letter, accompanied by specific examples of times when you demonstrated these skills in the workplace.Use Skill Words During Job Interviews:  You can also use these skill words in an  interview. Again, make sure you have at least one example of a time you demonstrated each of the top skill sets listed above.