Mechanical Engineering Technician

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A mechanical engineering technician could...

Overview Listen to this section

You use mechanical devices every day—to zip and snap your clothing, open doors, refrigerate and cook your food, get clean water, heat your home, play music, surf the Internet, travel around, and even to brush your teeth. Virtually every object that you see around has been mechanically engineered or designed at some point, requiring the skills of mechanical engineering technicians to create drawings of the product, or to build and test models of the product to find the best design.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Mechanical Engineering Technician?

1. 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.
2. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
3. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
4. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
5. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.

6. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
7. Operations Monitoring: ? Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
8. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
9. Quality Control Analysis: ? Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
10. Systems Analysis: ? Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Mechanical Engineering Technician might do:

• Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.
• Interpret engineering sketches, specifications, or drawings.
• Calculate required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submit data to engineering personnel for approval.
• Review project instructions and blueprints to ascertain test specifications, procedures, and objectives, and test nature of technical problems such as redesign.
• Provide technical support to other employees regarding mechanical design, fabrication, testing, or documentation.
• Test machines, components, materials, or products to determine characteristics such as performance, strength, or response to stress.
• Draft detail drawing or sketch for drafting room completion or to request parts fabrication by machine, sheet or wood shops.
• Analyze test results in relation to design or rated specifications and test objectives, and modify or adjust equipment to meet specifications.
• Record test procedures and results, numerical and graphical data, and recommendations for changes in product or test methods.
• Prepare specifications, designs, or sketches for machines, components, or systems related to the generation, transmission, or use of mechanical or fluid energy.
• Read dials and meters to determine amperage, voltage, electrical output and input at specific operating temperature to analyze parts performance.
• Design molds, tools, dies, jigs, or fixtures for use in manufacturing processes.
• Review project instructions and specifications to identify, modify and plan requirements fabrication, assembly and testing.
• Design specialized or customized equipment, machines, or structures.
• Conduct failure analyses, document results, and recommend corrective actions.
• Set up and conduct tests of complete units and components under operational conditions to investigate proposals for improving equipment performance.
• Assist engineers to design, develop, test, or manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, or other equipment.
• Prepare layouts of machinery, tools, plants, or equipment.
• Prepare equipment inspection schedules, reliability schedules, work plans, or other records.
• Analyze or estimate production costs, such as labor, equipment, and plant space.
• Devise, fabricate, or assemble new or modified mechanical components for products such as industrial machinery or equipment, and measuring instruments.
• Discuss changes in design, method of manufacture and assembly, or drafting techniques and procedures with staff and coordinate corrections.
• Monitor, inspect, or test mechanical equipment.