What does the day look like for a mechanical engineer?

Mechanical engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

A. Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers and review and approve designs, calculations and cost estimates.

B. Conduct research into the feasibility, design, operation and performance of mechanisms, components and systems

C. Plan and manage projects, and prepare material, cost and timing estimates, reports and design specifications for machinery and systems

D. Design power plants, machines, components, tools, fixtures and equipment

E. Analyze dynamics and vibrations of mechanical systems and structures

F. Supervise and inspect the installation, modification and commissioning of mechanical systems at construction sites or in industrial facilities

G. Develop maintenance standards, schedules and programs and provide guidance to industrial maintenance crews

Scholarships

You got great answers letting you know the different options for Mechanical Engineers. I will therefore be specific for product development. I have experience with consumer electronics and medical devices.

First off, there is no such thing as a typical day. Projects can last from a few months to a few years. The projects start with concept development or feasibility. This is where you explore what you will develop and your approach. Depending on the complexity, this can last a week to a year. This is where you do research and build proof of concept models.

Next you get into the design phase, this is where you are designing parts for production. You will work with the suppliers of the components and the assembly team to make sure that what you design can be made efficiently. You will also test prototype to make sure that the product meets the customer's needs. There can be a lot of analysis in both of these phases.

Third, you get into pilot builds to verify that what you build works with the parts that were made in production processes, the factory can assemble them, and the product meets all the requirements. Then you go to production launch.

Depending on the set up of the company, you may need to support post production items that includes review of field issues, product improvement, and cost reduction.

I personally like that there is not a typical day because I like the variety and the challenge. I hope this helps.

There are different kinds of jobs that mechanical engineers can do. If you are a project engineer you could be designing structures, buildings, equipment or supervision the installation of big projects. Mechanical engineers also write scopes of work, cost estimates etc. If you go into a specialty field or manufacturing you would design parts or assemblies. For instance automotive and aeronautics work on engines and chassis. They also do stress analysis and materials studies among other studies. The types of work are almost endless. I hope this helps. Good luck.