Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineering is concerned with the design, development, installation, operation and maintenance of a wide range of products that contain movable parts. Mechanical engineers may be involved in:

• design – producing or revising plans to create new products
• research and development – investigating ways of solving engineering problems, using new technologies as and when they become available
• production – planning and implementing a range of production processes.

Mechanical engineers use a wide range of skills to devise ways of improving the way we live. They work in a diverse range of industries, including:

• Manufacturing – including pharmaceuticals, electronics and cars, food and high-tech products. Mechanical engineers install, maintain, and commission new machinery for production units.
• Aerospace – carrying out research, designing and applying the principles of aerodynamics, electronics and mechanical engineering to new or existing products. The work may involve investigating the use of new materials, improving existing ones, and modifying designs to improve aspects such as safety, fuel consumption or pollution.
• Energy, renewable energy and climate change. In addition to traditional power stations and water supply, mechanical engineers may be involved in developing new ways of converting wind, wave and solar energy into electricity for our homes and businesses.
• Railways. Mechanical engineers may be involved in designing faster, safer and more comfortable trains as well as installing and maintaining signals and track.
• Automotive. Mechanical engineers may be involved in the design and manufacture of vehicles and engines that run on environmentally friendly and sustainable sources of power, such as hydrogen fuel. Others may build high-performance racing cars using new materials such as advanced plastics composites.
• Medical – working with healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, therapists and technicians. They design instruments, artificial limbs and mobility equipment.
• Sports – researching the use of composite materials and titanium, replacing natural materials in sports equipment to help improve performance.

Engineering projects, such as the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge on the river Barrow,the Luas extension in Dublin and the new children’s hospital being constructed in Dublin, involve engineers of all disciplines. Mechanical engineers need to be able to work alongside electrical, civil and construction engineers as well as those in the nuclear and medical fields.

Hours and environment

Mechanical engineers are normally required to work a standard number of hours each week, although the actual number of hours may be considerably longer, depending on the type of work.

Work environments may range from quiet, modern, open plan offices to factory production areas, which may be noisy. At times, engineers may have to visit outdoor sites.

Mechanical engineers often work for multinational organisations, and this frequently involves travel and short periods away from home. The dress required varies from suits and ties for office work to overalls, hard hats and even specialist equipment when working on installations.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

Salaries range from €25,000 a year for newly qualified Engineers and can rise to between €75,000 to €85,000 for senior Mechanical Engineers and could even be higher depending on the size of the project the engineer is working on.

Mechanical engineers need:

• to be good at maths, science and technology
• to be good at ICT, particularly computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and computer-aided engineering (CAE)
• excellent verbal and written communication skills
• to be good at planning and organisation
• to be good team workers.

Entry routes

The standard entry route into mechanical engineering is through studying full time at university or college for a first degree, and a wide choice of courses and qualifications are available. It is possible to follow a specific mechanical engineering course or a combined course.

Useful Links:

http://www.steps.ie

http://www.engineersireland.ie/home.aspx