Mechanical Engineer

Also called: Air Conditioning Engineer, Application Engineer, Applications Engineer, Auto Research Engineer, Automation Engineer

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Mechanical engineers 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.

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.
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software.
Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.
Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems.
Design test control apparatus or equipment or develop procedures for testing products.
Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems or needs.
Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
Estimate costs or submit bids for engineering, construction, or extraction projects.
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact.
Direct the installation, operation, maintenance, or repair of renewable energy equipment, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) or water systems.
Design integrated mechanical or alternative systems, such as mechanical cooling systems with natural ventilation systems, to improve energy efficiency.
Apply engineering principles or practices to emerging fields, such as robotics, waste management, or biomedical engineering.
Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects.
Perform personnel functions, such as supervision of production workers, technicians, technologists, or other engineers.
Calculate energy losses for buildings, using equipment such as computers, combustion analyzers, or pressure gauges.
Solicit new business.
Provide technical customer service.
Study industrial processes to maximize the efficiency of equipment applications, including equipment placement.
Establish or coordinate the maintenance or safety procedures, service schedule, or supply of materials required to maintain machines or equipment in the prescribed condition.
Select or install combined heat units, power units, cogeneration equipment, or trigeneration equipment that reduces energy use or pollution.

Work Context

Face-to-Face Discussions — 94% responded "Every day".
Telephone — 78% responded "Every day".
Structured versus Unstructured Work — 65% responded "A lot of freedom".
Freedom to Make Decisions — 52% responded "A lot of freedom".
Contact With Others — 58% responded "Constant contact with others".
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 72% responded "Every day".
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 59% responded "Extremely important".

Electronic Mail — 71% responded "Every day".

Work With Work Group or Team — 48% responded "Extremely important".

Frequency of Decision Making — 62% responded "Every day".

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 74% responded "Every day".

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 36% responded "Very important results".

Time Pressure — 33% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".

Coordinate or Lead Others — 52% responded "Extremely important".

Level of Competition — 37% responded "Moderately competitive".

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 34% responded "Extremely important".

Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 38% responded "Every day".

Spend Time Sitting — 35% responded "More than half the time".

Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 30% responded "Very high responsibility".

Physical Proximity — 42% responded "Slightly close (e.g., shared office)".

Letters and Memos — 33% responded "Once a year or more but not every month".

Consequence of Error — 36% responded "Fairly serious".

Frequency of Conflict Situations — 33% responded "Once a month or more but not every week".

Deal With External Customers — 31% responded "Very important".

Work Activities

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Detailed Work Activities

Review technical documents to plan work.
Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems.
Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
Analyze design or requirements information for mechanical equipment or systems.
Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
Direct installation activities.

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Design

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Physics

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Chemistry

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Clerical

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

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.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to 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.

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.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Systems Analysis

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Technology Design

Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Operation Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Persuasion

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need: