To launch a career in mechanical engineering, learn about what mechanical engineers do and discover ten tips to help you get your first job.
Mechanical engineers design mechanical devices, mechanical systems, machines, and tools. This engineering discipline spans many industries, including automobiles, heating and cooling systems, healthcare devices, and robotics. These engineers are involved in all process stages, from research, design, and development to building and testing.
As a mechanical engineer, your day-to-day tasks might include:
Analysing problems to identify mechanical solutions
Designing and redesigning devices, systems, and subsystems with the help of computer-aided design and analysis
Developing and testing device prototypes and using the results to improve the mechanical design
Leading the device manufacturing process
Improving maintainability and reliability to reduce downtime of systems and equipment
Researching and meeting with stakeholders to understand needs, requirements, and expectations
Mechanical engineers are highly skilled professionals. These ten tips can help you prepare yourself for an engineering job.
To become a mechanical engineer in India, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree in technology (B.Tech) in mechanical engineering. An alternate route is completing a three-year mechanical engineering diploma course from a polytechnic college. To advance your career, you can go even further and earn a master’s degree in mechanical engineering (M.Tech) [1].
Beyond skills specific to mechanical engineering, you may be more marketable to potential employers if you have a good grasp of business basics. Engineering firms are looking to hire skilled engineers who understand how total production costs affect their decisions. Navigating income statements and balance sheets might give you a competitive edge.
Engineering Project Management: Risk, Quality, Teams, and Procurement
Mechanical engineers are often tasked with innovating solutions and creating designs that require skills beyond what you gain in mechanical engineering programs. Some of the design issues you might face or the software you'll have to use could be outside your speciality. Top engineering organisations recommend gaining some training outside of mechanical engineering, too.
As a mechanical engineer, you'll use computers regularly, so it makes sense to gain proficiency in relevant areas of IT and computer science. Strong tech skills will be beneficial if you're working on integrating sensors into machinery or using technology to analyse designs or run simulations. Build a strong foundation in technology with applied data science using Python or computer-aided design and manufacturing specialisations.
To be more independent or achieve higher leadership levels, consider earning a PE (professional engineer) licence. To do so, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent recognised by the Statutory Authority or Government of India and at least five years of professional work experience. There may be other requirements depending on the state where you seek the licence. [1]
Working with someone with more industry experience can be helpful when you're just starting. This person can help guide you and shape your career path. Check with the HR department at your job or internship, join engineering societies, or connect via social media to find a mentor to guide you.
Communication is key, and employers look for candidates capable of explaining their designs and concepts to colleagues and clients who may need to become more familiar with mechanical engineering terms or systems. You might also need to be tasked with writing reports, so you must be proficient in written communication. You’ll likely need excellent organisation, time management, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Learn fundamental principles for communicating more effectively by taking the Oral Communication for Engineering Leaders course from Rice University.
Write a resume highlighting the most relevant skills to each engineering job you apply for. Also, highlight relevant work experiences and education. Be sure to craft a resume rich in keywords and industry-specific phrases, which will help it pass automated applicant tracking systems (ATSs).
You can feel confident going into your first interview when you are prepared. You can go over some common interview questions ahead of time to build confidence. Although every interviewer has their style, these are a few questions you’re likely to encounter:
General questions to get a sense of your background and expertise, including questions about the first thing you designed or how you'd explain complicated designs to people without an engineering background
Behavioural questions designed to get a sense of how you work, which might include questions about mistakes you’ve made in the past or examples of situations in which you had to provide data to support an important decision
Technical questions geared towards your discipline or the speciality required by the job, with possible questions about cold drawing processes or the purpose of heat treatment
Your university peers and instructors, mechanical engineering societies, and networking events can all be potential sources to lead you to your next great job. Stay connected and actively seek out new connections to extend your network. Additionally, it’s important to continue learning even after getting a job to remain on top of the latest technologies and techniques.
Enroll in Introduction to Engineering Mechanics at Georgia Tech to see if a career in mechanical engineering is right for you. Alternatively, build your job-ready technical skills with the Autodesk CAD/CAM/CAE for Mechanical Engineering Specialisation.
As of March 2024, the average annual salary for a mechanical engineer in India is ₹2,72,842 per year 2.
Mechanical engineers work mostly in an office environment, although they may have to visit worksites occasionally. Some common industries that employ mechanical engineers include manufacturing and the automotive, aerospace, and aircraft industries 1.
The field is projected to grow by 7 percent by 2030. Around 20,200 mechanical engineers are hired annually in India 3.
Although you typically don't need a license or certification for entry-level jobs, you will likely need one or more for higher-level mechanical engineering jobs. An example is a Professional Engineer (PE) license, for which you need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or the equivalent, as recognised by the Statutory Authority or Government of India, along with at least five years of professional working experience 1.
Indeed. "How to Become a Mechanical Engineer, https://in.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-a-mechanical-engineer." Accessed April 5, 2024.
Indeed. "Mechanical Engineer monthly salaries in India at Indeed, https://in.indeed.com/career/mechanical-engineer/salaries." Accessed April 5, 2024.
Chandigarh Group of Colleges. "Top Mechanical Engineering Jobs and Salary in 2022, https://www.cgc.edu.in/blog/top-mechanical-engineering-jobs-and-salary-in-2022." Accessed April 5, 2024.
Editorial Team
Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.