Mechanical Engineer
What the work is
Plans, designs, develops, tests and oversees the manufacturing, operation, maintenance and installation of mechanical systems.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Designs mechanical equipment, machines, tools and components for agricultural, mining, construction, manufacturing and other industrial purposes
- Plans and designs the layout, flow and processes of mechanical and process plants
- Oversees the assembly, erection and commissioning of mechanical and process plant and installations
- Studies and analyses mechanical systems and components to evaluate their performance
- Inspects, maintains and tests mechanical equipment, and investigates mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance issues
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a factory that makes packaged goods, where lines of machines run most of the day. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A change you suggested makes the line run smoother and the team notices
- You watch a machine you helped design run its first full shift without stopping
- An operator shows you a better way to do a job and you build it into the process
Hard days
- A breakdown on a Friday afternoon with a full order waiting to leave
- A cost cutting request that would make the job harder for the people on the floor
- Your idea looks great on screen but doesn't survive contact with the real factory
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 243532, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.