Plan, explore, and apply to college using these great tools.
Career Details :: Mechanical Engineering Technicians
Description
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, and test machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks
- Reviews project instructions and blueprints to ascertain test specifications, procedures, and objectives, and tests nature of technical problems, such as redesign.
- Tests equipment, using test devices attached to generator, voltage regulator, or other electrical parts, such as generators or spark plugs.
- Analyzes tests results in relation to design or rated specifications and test objectives and modifies or adjusts equipment to meet specifications.
- Estimates cost factors, including labor and material for purchased and fabricated parts and costs for assembly, testing, and installing.
- Inspects lines and figures for clarity and returns erroneous drawings to designer for correction.
- Prepares parts sketches and writes work orders and purchase requests to be furnished by outside contractors.
- Reads dials and meters to determine amperage, voltage, and electrical out and input at specific operating temperature to analyze parts performance.
- Operates drill press, grinders, engine lathe, or other machines to modify parts tested or to fabricate experimental parts for testing.
- Evaluates tool-drawing designs by measuring drawing dimensions and comparing with original specifications for form and function, using engineering skills.
- Confers with technicians and submits reports of test results to engineering department and recommends design or material changes.
- Records test procedures and results, numerical and graphical data, and recommendations for changes in product or test methods.
- Drafts detail drawing or sketch for drafting room completion or to request parts fabrication by machine, sheet, or wood shops.
- Calculates required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submits data to engineering personnel for approval.
- Discusses changes in design, method of manufacture and assembly, and drafting techniques and procedures with staff and coordinates corrections.
- Reviews project instructions and specifications to identify, modify and plan requirements fabrication, assembly, and testing.
- Sets up prototype and test apparatus and operates test-controlling equipment to observe and record prototype test results.
- Sets up and conducts tests of complete units and components under operational conditions to investigate proposals for improving equipment performance.
- Devises, fabricates, and assembles new or modified mechanical components for products, such as industrial machinery or equipment, and measuring instruments.
Related Careers
- Machinists
- Marine Architects
- Marine Engineers
- Materials Inspectors
- Mechanical Inspectors
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
- Petroleum Engineers
- Precision Devices Inspectors and Testers
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, Material
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Updating & Using Job-Relevant Knowledge
- Processing Information
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Consequence of Error
- Indoors
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Automotive Engineering Technology |  [ add ] |
| Drafting | [ add ] |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technology | [ add ] |
| Drafting/Design Technology | [ add ] |
| Energy Management | [ add ] |
| Energy Technology | [ add ] |
| Environmental/Energy Policy | [ add ] |
| Industrial Technology/Automotive Management Technology | [ add ] |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology | [ add ] |
| Mechanical/Automotive Engineering | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.