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Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson

Technicians and Trades WorkersUsually a diploma or similar, or several years of experience

What the work is

Prepares detailed drawings and plans of mechanical engineering work in support of Mechanical Engineers and Engineering Technologists.

Would you enjoy the work?

These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.

  • Prepares detailed drawings and plans of mechanical engineering work
  • Ensures plans and drawings of mechanical engineering work comply with industry standards and regulations
  • Creates detailed blueprints that manufacturers can use for mass production of mechanical parts
  • Uses CAD software and 3D printing to create models of mechanical parts, and specify product dimensions and quantity of materials needed

Try it

A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a fictional engineering workshop and testing lab that supports factories, hospitals and construction sites. They are fictional.

The kind of days you could have

Good days

  • You find the hidden flaw in a part before it ever leaves the workshop
  • A drawing you finished is turned into a real part that fits the first time
  • A machine that was out of action runs again because of your diagnosis

Hard days

  • A part fails a test just before a delivery deadline and the client is waiting
  • Documents and drawings that do not match, and a long search for which one is right
  • Pressure to pass a result that you are not sure about

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 313933, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.