Mechanical engineering
What is mechanical engineering?
What do mechanical engineers do?
Where do mechanical engineers work?
Work conditions
Employment opportunities
Salaries
Specialisations
Find out more
What is mechanical engineering?
Mechanical engineering covers the generation, conversion, transmission and use of energy. Specifically, it involves the design, construction, operation and improvement of devices, machinery and systems. It may also involve studying the behaviour of gases, solids and liquids under certain conditions.
What do mechanical engineers do?
Mechanical engineers typically design and manufacture a diverse range of products and systems such as: industrial machinery, domestic appliances, renewable energy systems, electrical generators, robots, ships, aircraft, engines, pumps, computer systems, turbines, or air conditioning and ventilation systems, just
to name a few!
More recent areas of investigation for mechanical engineers include noise and vibration restriction, pollution control, and the design of prosthetic limbs and joints.
Where do mechanical engineers work?
Mechanical engineers work in almost all industries in both the private and public sectors. Examples of the diverse range of industries include: power generation, chemical processing, automotive, aviation, aeronautical, mining, entertainment, manufacturing, refrigeration and air conditioning, building services, transportation, and petrochemical.
Work conditions
Mechanical engineers often work collaboratively with other professionals, architects for example, pooling knowledge and expertise on projects.
The work environment for mechanical engineers varies and may include offices, production plants, or construction sites. Travel is often a requirement of this occupation.
Employment opportunities
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Australian jobs 2008 reports that job prospects for mechanical engineers are average. Unemployment in this occupation is currently below average but the predicted outlook is that the job market to 2012-13 may decline. According to the Graduate Careers Australia GradStats December 2007 survey, 91.7% of mechanical engineering graduates were in full-time employment four months after graduating.
Salaries
According to Engineers Australia's 2007 Salary and Benefits survey, the average base salary for a graduate mechanical engineer in 2007, across the private and public sectors, was $54,265. Mechanical engineers with between 4-10 years experience earned an average of $85,512.
Specialisations
Mechanical engineers may specialise as manufacturing systems engineers. A manufacturing systems engineer designs and improves systems and equipment that complete tasks accurately and change raw material into product.
Find out more
Engineers Australia, www.engineersaustralia.org.au
Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA), www.apesma.asn.au