4 answers
ethan
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
3
Questions
Asked
528 views
What is the daily life of mechanical engineers like?
What is the daily life of mechanical engineers like?
Login to comment
4 answers
David C Byram
Mechanical Design Engineering / Educator
39
Answers
Palm Coast, Florida
Updated
David C’s Answer
Hello Ethan,
It really depends on the company you work for at the moment. Let's say you get a position with a large manufacturer like General Motors. Then you may be pigeon holed in only performing certain tasks. If that's ok with you, then go for it. However, I prefer those companies that expect you to "wear various hats" or be able to perform multiple disciplines in the daily routine. Such positions allow you to become well rounded in a variety of skill sets and responsibilities which make you much more in demand. These types of companies make you challenge yourself and make you want to continue to learn so as to become a better engineer.
My career was the latter. I enjoyed it so much that I looked forward to work each day and always felt some accomplishment. I was also very much in demand due to the fact I was versatile and had much more to offer the employer. I recommend you do not get a job that puts you in a rut.
It really depends on the company you work for at the moment. Let's say you get a position with a large manufacturer like General Motors. Then you may be pigeon holed in only performing certain tasks. If that's ok with you, then go for it. However, I prefer those companies that expect you to "wear various hats" or be able to perform multiple disciplines in the daily routine. Such positions allow you to become well rounded in a variety of skill sets and responsibilities which make you much more in demand. These types of companies make you challenge yourself and make you want to continue to learn so as to become a better engineer.
My career was the latter. I enjoyed it so much that I looked forward to work each day and always felt some accomplishment. I was also very much in demand due to the fact I was versatile and had much more to offer the employer. I recommend you do not get a job that puts you in a rut.
Colin Arlott
1
Answer
Updated
Colin’s Answer
As a Chartered Mechanical Engineer towards the end of his career I would say this: No two days will be the same. You will have challenges and opportunities to grow beyond your wildest expectations. You will sweat , you will panic, you will overcome and you will grow. It will not be easy. It will pay well but not like a celeb’. It will be the best decision you ever made in your life. In the end you will look back and say that was worthwhile- that’s my experience.
I wish you the very best. I hope you become the very best.
I wish you the very best. I hope you become the very best.
Sebastian Savage
Mechanical Designer
1
Answer
Chandler, Arizona
Updated
Sebastian’s Answer
When I worked for a Engineering Consulting firm in Beaverton, OR, a typical day involved a 30 minute check in meeting at 9am PST with the project managers, mechanical, structural, electrical engineers (PE or EIT), designers (of those same 3 areas), the drafters (like 4 of them for this single client) and two administrators to discuss any roadblocks (anything preventing the progress of the assigned projects) and opens (questions, concerns, general rule changes on client site, like new boot requirements, who's going on vacation and who's covering, etc).
Although every Monday morning, we would do an hour long meeting (again, 9am PST) to discuss the progress of each individual project for a single client - the biggest chip manufacturer (hint, hint), making sure the Project Milestones (essentially, an Excel file with a schedule for all the projects and specifying when deliverables were due) was up-to-date and current, as in no project delays, holds, scope changes, out of funding, etc.
Then, depending on what project I was on, it varied from going out into the field to obtain information (pipe specifications, such as diameter, length, numbers of 90 and 45 degree elbows, for example) for said project or going to meetings with clients and team (external meeting) or just the team (internal meeting) to discuss changes and updates made to an Excel file. This Excel file was used to compare the in-field conditions of these pipes to what the client originally had before we, as the consulting firm, went out into the field. These pipes carried all kinds of systems, like air, gasses, liquids, etc to create these chips. Sorry if it's too generic, but I'm trying not to give specifics out given that I've signed an NDA of some sort (I don't recall specifically what it says I can and cannot say) and said client, supposedly, can monitor online posts and activity for information breaches.
I hope this gives you a better idea of what it's like to work as an ME in a consulting firm. I'm actually in the process of shifting to a new position related to manufacturing or something more hands-on. Even going into aerospace sounds cool.
Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions.
Take care.
Although every Monday morning, we would do an hour long meeting (again, 9am PST) to discuss the progress of each individual project for a single client - the biggest chip manufacturer (hint, hint), making sure the Project Milestones (essentially, an Excel file with a schedule for all the projects and specifying when deliverables were due) was up-to-date and current, as in no project delays, holds, scope changes, out of funding, etc.
Then, depending on what project I was on, it varied from going out into the field to obtain information (pipe specifications, such as diameter, length, numbers of 90 and 45 degree elbows, for example) for said project or going to meetings with clients and team (external meeting) or just the team (internal meeting) to discuss changes and updates made to an Excel file. This Excel file was used to compare the in-field conditions of these pipes to what the client originally had before we, as the consulting firm, went out into the field. These pipes carried all kinds of systems, like air, gasses, liquids, etc to create these chips. Sorry if it's too generic, but I'm trying not to give specifics out given that I've signed an NDA of some sort (I don't recall specifically what it says I can and cannot say) and said client, supposedly, can monitor online posts and activity for information breaches.
I hope this gives you a better idea of what it's like to work as an ME in a consulting firm. I'm actually in the process of shifting to a new position related to manufacturing or something more hands-on. Even going into aerospace sounds cool.
Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions.
Take care.
Soumya Bandyopadhyay
Mechanical Engineer
54
Answers
Fremont, California
Updated
Soumya’s Answer
Thanks for the question. As a young aspiring mechanical design engineer, I spend time designing in software starting from initial conceptual sketches. The designs which I am certain about their functionality, I iteratively prototype them using 3D Printing/in-house machining processes to verify their functionality. The designs which are in the incipient stage, I take feedback from senior engineers to ensure that the design morphs into a prototyping phase. If prototypes work with reasonable expectations, we proceed to a high volume manufacturing stage, which involves outsourcing the design to manufacturers and involves negotiation of design vs. manufacturing capabilities, in the context of total budget.