Mechanical Engineer careers guide & job description

Mechanical engineers have the very special skill of designing machinery and mini-machinery-bits (components, in other words).

You’ll find machinery everywhere these days, so mechanical engineers are needed in almost any industry you can think of, from energy to healthcare.

Is there something you’d like to know about engineering careers? Maybe we can help!

• DID YOU KNOW? You can get into these careers with T Levels!
• What types of engineering are there?
• Engineering jobs you can do without a degree
• How school STEM clubs help you build engineering skills
• See why engineering students are in demand for construction careers!

See more

Useful skills to put in your CV:

• Good problem solving skills and an enquiring mind – every time you face a new challenge or project you will think about how to break it down and turn “I can’t” into “we can”.
• Good organisation skills – this will help you with your education and training, and also with helping you to make sure projects are done on time. It will also help you with the commercial part of your job like budgeting for raw materials and people to get the job done.
• Teamworking skills – you could work as part of an engineering team led by a senior engineer. As you progress in your career, you’ll also build leadership and project management skills.
• Good communication skills – you will be able to present your work by email, over the phone, face to face in meetings, and even through presentations.
• Good digital skills – engineering is using computers and digital technology more and more these days, so it’s good to feel comfortable in a digital world when you explore engineering careers.

Top Skills-boosting Tip

If you think you’re not technical, ask yourself if you know how to use a mobile phone. If you do, maybe you’re more technical than you think!

How Do You Get These Skills?

Vocational qualifications and work experience will help you build these skills over time.

Build Your Skills With the FREE Young Professional Programme

School, college and training

You will usually need passing grades of 9-4 (A*-C) in at least four GCSEs or their equivalent including English, maths and a science subject. Other useful subjects include D&T, ICT, computing and engineering.

It may benefit you to take 2 to 3 A-levels or their equivalent, covering at least one subject related to science, maths, ICT or engineering.

School will give you a good foundation education in the engineering principles you might need to know. It will also help you to apply for further education such as a degree.

Vocational Qualifications

As an alternative to A-levels, you can study a vocational course. You could think about doing an HNC/HND or foundation degree in one of the following subjects:

• HND/HNC Mechanical engineering

You could also take a job as a technician after leaving school then study a vocational course related to mechanical engineering part-time.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has information on courses.

The Engineering Council also has a list of qualifications and courses.

T-Levels

T-Levels are a choice for learners after GCSEs alongside apprenticeships and A-levels. You can do a T-Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control. This qualification comes with an industry placement and can help you get an engineering career.

BTECs

As an alternative to A-Levels, you can do BTECs from the age of 16. The BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Mechanical Engineering gives you the specialist knowledge and technical skills to progress into, for example, an apprenticeship or employment.You’ll learn a lot including engineering principles, electronice devices/circuits, and computer-aided design.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a scheme where you train while earning a starting salary.

With an apprenticeship (or advanced apprenticeship) you’ll have a paid job with an employer that includes structured training and learning. This training leads to an official qualification that’s recognised by employers as an industry standard.

You could apply for an apprenticeship in:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Electro-mechanical Engineering
• Manufacture Engineering

You can also seek out mechanical engineering apprenticeships with organisations like Find an Apprenticeship.

University degrees and graduates

You may sometimes need to complete a foundation degree, HNC, HND or degree to get into mechanical engineering. Many mechanical engineers enter the profession as graduates.

Useful degrees to consider include

• Mechanical engineering
• Electromechanical engineering
• Mechatronics
• Engineering (mechanical/manufacturing)

UCAS has more information on degree courses and entry requirements.

Mechanical engineering gives you the chance to work for different people like the government, the armed services, manufacturers, research and development facilities, and public utilities.

If you become a Chartered Engineer you will find it easier to get project management roles or specialise in your chosen field. It can also help you strike out on your own and do consultancy work.

Work Experience Tips

It can help you decide if this is the right career for you if you have previously done work experience in an engineering environment.

Any work experience where you have demonstrated your engineering skills can help your application.

Examples of relevant work experience include:

• Work shadowing (even if it’s just for a day)
• Work placements in a company
• Work experience placements on a college or university course

If you’re a Year 12 student, you can apply for a Nuffield Research Placement. Over 1,000 students a year get the chance to work with scientists, mathematicians and engineers from all kinds of universities and organisations.

Work experience tips

Volunteering Tips

If you’re aged 21 or under, you could build experience and skills relevant to design and engineering by becoming an Industrial Cadet. You’ll join other students from local schools to take part in industry based activities with a local employer. Visit industrialcadets.org.uk for more info.

If you’re still at school, one way to expand a range of engineering skills (including mechanics) is to join a school STEM club.

Volunteering tips

Example daily job responsibilities

• Using design software and computer-aided modelling (CAD/CAM) to make research ideas spring into life as technical plans to help build the product
• Checking mechanical systems and equipment
• Researching new products and innovations to see if they’re as good as they’re cracked up to be
• Creating technical documents to support the work you do
• Presenting design plans and information to managers and clients
• Supporting the contract team when bidding for new work
• Checking maintenance programmes and quality control
• Once you gain experience: Leading a project team of technicians, designers and other engineering professionals.

To find jobs for young people in this role, search on jobs boards for early career roles and opportunities with these words in the title:

• Manufacturing engineering apprenticeship
• Advanced apprenticeship – manufacturing engineering
• Graduate apprenticeship in mechanical engineering
• Graduate mechanical engineer

You can also take a look at our database of local opportunities to see if there are any relevant jobs, work placements, or careers events and workshops to help you get started.

These websites might be able to help you find mechanical engineering experience or a role that’s a good fit for you:

• Find an Apprenticeship
• EngineeringUK
• Tomorrow’s Engineers
• Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET)
• Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance (SEMTA)
• Engineering Council (ECUK)
• Women into Science, Engineering and Construction (WISE)

Mechanical engineers design and study mechanical systems. Manufacturing engineers apply engineering principles to the development and carrying out of manufacturing processes.

We’re mentioning it because once you start looking for work, you’ll often see these two roles crop up together. There’s a lot of overlap, but they’re not the same thing!

These employers all carry our Youth Friendly Employer Mark. We work with them to make sure that they are providing great support and opportunities to young people.

Click on an employer to find out more about them and the youth-friendly opportunities they offer, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate schemes.