Mechanical Engineer
Also called: Design Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Process Engineer, Product Engineer
Mechanical engineering is the study of objects and systems in motion. Individuals in this career take products from idea to marketplace. The field traces nearly every aspect of modern life, from the smallest micro-particle to machines to space crafts and even the human body.
Median Salary in St. Louis
$87,644
Employment Projection in St. Louis
2016 Employment: 1,610
2026 Projected Employment: 1,735
Mechanical Engineer Facts
- Biomedical – medical devices, prosthetic limbs etc.
- Aerospace – planes, rockets, choppers
- Robotics
- Nuclear Energy
- Acoustical – work with sound and vibration
- Manufacturing – design the product and figure out how it will be built
- Thermal – work with thermodynamics. Heating/cooling equipment and management of power
- Transportation systems – building new and improving old
- Vehicle – automobile, marine, and aeronautical engineering
What they do: Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
On the job you would:
- Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Operations Analysis — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- ABET accredited degree (Bachelor of Science in engineering) or one that is equivalent to an ABET accredited program (this will be decided upon an approved NCEES credential evaluation report).
- If you earned your degree from a non-ABET accredited program/school, you will need to obtain a Master’s degree in engineering from a school that is ABET accredited.
- All foreign-educated applicants holding a bachelor of science in engineering degree not accredited by ABET are required to submit a favorable evaluation report completed by NCEES Credential Evaluations.
- Passing the FE exam (administered by NCEES)
- Examinees usually have to be approved by the Missouri State Licensing Board before you can sit for an NCEES exam