- Adith
What Jobs Can You Do With Mechanical Engineering?
Engineering is one of the most sought-after courses by students upon completing their 12th-grade science stream. It offers a wide range of options, like civil, mechanical, electrical, information technology, artificial intelligence, and so on. One such course preferred by students who hold an interest in creating and designing machines is mechanical engineering. In this article, we will give you a roadmap and details about the skills and career options available for mechanical engineers.
Benefits of Studying Mechanical Engineering
This four-year course equips the students with the necessary knowledge about the fundamentals and important concepts to understand the subject better and prepare them for a corporate setting. It also includes technical skills like designing, curation, analyzing defects, CAD, etc. Some of the soft skills that students learn include problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking abilities,
Apart from gaining knowledge and experience, it allows building professional connections with industrial prospects through internships or project work. Colleges usually arrange seminars, webinars, and interactions with industry experts to give students exposure to the real world. This helps students with their placements and networking.
Mechanical Engineering Degree Career Options
Following a degree in mechanical engineering, a student is provided with multiple career options to explore. A few such choices include:
CAD Technician
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is software used to create 2D and 3D drawings of products before actual manufacturing. CAD technicians make use of these tools, like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, etc., to design parts with specific measurements that are used in manufacturing industries. They craft such designs by keeping the requirements of the customer in mind and preparing a model that helps to study the product in detail.
Aerospace Engineer
An aerospace engineer designs and creates state-of-the-art technology applicable to aircraft, spacecraft, and other related aerospace vehicles like satellites and rockets to enhance the efficiency of machines. They design, manufacture and test the products that are used in the aerospace industry. They can either work in labs, the design industry, or universities.
Mechanical Designer
As the name suggests, mechanical designers are concerned with precisely crafting the technical designs of mechanical systems and components. They try to find ways to improve the quality and efficiency of manufacturing processes through well-crafted designs.
Mechanical Engineer
The role of a mechanical engineer is to create innovative technology and products, find simple solutions to complex problems, plan the design of the model, test the products after design, and curate them to enhance the efficiency and profitability of mechanical systems and processes. An individual with great mathematical skills, technical capabilities, and critical thinking can carve a niche in this industry.
Control and Instrumentation Engineer
A control and instrumentation engineer designs and develops control systems and other equipment used in industrial setups. They are also responsible for testing the products for defects, improving the efficiency of existing systems, and ensuring the safety of machines. They either work for companies manufacturing the products or for companies that use these implements.
Automotive Engineer
Automotive engineers are involved in designing and building automobiles, like cars and bikes, and parts like engines, etc. They also indulge in fabricating cutting-edge technology to improve the design and productivity, repair components, and make sure the design complies with industrial standards.
Key Skills for Mechanical Engineers
Students pick up numerous skills during the duration of the course. Alongside this, after setting foot in the corporate sector, they learn and gain expertise in their chosen field. But there are a few essential skills one must have to become a successful engineer in the mechanical engineering field.
Math
Mathematical skills are indispensable to becoming a good engineer. It is essential to make calculations, design the product with attention, and meet the required specifications. Calculations are important to minimize errors, improve productivity, and design a better product.
Problem-Solving
An important attribute of a mechanical engineer is their problem-solving ability. In any given situation, this skill helps in recognizing the issue, finding a solution that is economically feasible and simple, reducing damage, and designing a product that is practical and has fewer defects.
Communication
Communication is an important skill that helps in networking and building relationships. To collaborate effectively with the team, understand the requirements of clients, and work with colleagues to find and design solutions and products, effective communication is crucial. This makes the job easier and less time-consuming.
Creativity
This skill sets every individual apart. It is a fundamental skill of an engineer. Creativity facilitates innovation and is essential in building advanced and unique products and services that are not only efficient but also ensure customer satisfaction. It helps in tackling any challenge and coming up with creative solutions.
How Much Can A Mechanical Engineer Earn?
The salary of a mechanical engineer varies depending on the company, experience, skill set, and career path. For an aerospace engineer, it is more or less 6 LPA. The average salary of a mechanical engineer can range between 4.5 lakh and 5.5 lakh per annum.
Conclusion
If the intricacies of machines—planning, designing, testing, and building them—are your interest and you have a strong passion for them, then mechanical engineering can be considered a good career prospect. It is a gateway to exploring your creative and designing abilities. Since machines are here to stay forever and the scope that the course offers is wide and lucrative, one can consider pursuing it as a career.
Though the demand for mechanical engineers is relatively low, there are companies that offer opportunities in diverse fields, such as aerospace, robotics, manufacturing, etc. Government companies like BHEL, DRDO, ONGC, etc. So if you possess the necessary technical knowledge and skills and innovation and designing are your passions, then mechanical engineering can be pursued in India.
Typically, the toughest branch varies based on individual strengths, weaknesses, and interests. It depends quite a lot on technical skills, the ease of understanding concepts, and a good grasp of the fundamentals in a particular specialization. For instance, if one is not comfortable with programming, then computer science engineering could be challenging for them.
Though the vacancies might be fewer, Google does hire mechanical engineers to design hardware components like robots, automation systems, and other physical components.