Mechanical Engineering Technologist

Other Titles

Computer Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer) , Engineer Technical Staff, Engineering Tech, Engineering Technologist, Mechanical Designer, Mechanical Designer, Senior Designer, Senior Process Analyst, Technical Staff Engineer, Tooling Engineering Tech

Assist mechanical engineers in such activities as generation, transmission, or use of mechanical or fluid energy. Prepare layouts of machinery or equipment or plan the flow of work. May conduct statistical studies or analyze production costs. Mechanical Engineering Technologists assist engineers in the design, development and testing phases of mechanical engineering equipment. They take basic design ideas and concepts from the engineers and then develop these ideas into actual products. As a mechanical engineering technologist, they test different product designs to determine the optimal design. They are also responsible for the rigorous testing, calibration and maintenance of the mechanical equipment. A part of their job includes performing routine inspections of the equipment. If they find any malfunctions during the course of their inspection, it is their job to fix or repair them.

Interpret engineering sketches, specifications, or drawings.

Assist engineers to design, develop, test, or manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, or other equipment.

Design specialized or customized equipment, machines, or structures.

Prepare specifications, designs, or sketches for machines, components, or systems related to the generation, transmission, or use of mechanical or fluid energy.

Provide technical support to other employees regarding mechanical design, fabrication, testing, or documentation.

Inspect and test mechanical equipment.

Conduct failure analyses, document results, and recommend corrective actions.

Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.

Test machines, components, materials, or products to determine characteristics such as performance, strength, or response to stress.

Prepare cost and materials estimates or project schedules.

Design molds, tools, dies, jigs, or fixtures for use in manufacturing processes.

Prepare layouts of machinery, tools, plants, or equipment.

Analyze or estimate production costs, such as labor, equipment, or plant space.

Prepare equipment inspection schedules, reliability schedules, work plans, or other records.

Assist mechanical engineers in product testing through activities such as setting up instrumentation for automobile crash tests.

Oversee, monitor, or inspect mechanical installations or construction projects.

Apply testing or monitoring apparatus to operating equipment.

Perform routine maintenance on equipment, such as leak detectors, glove boxes, or mechanical pumps.

Analyze energy requirements and distribution systems to maximize the use of intermittent or inflexible renewable energy sources, such as wind or nuclear.

Assist engineers to design or develop electrochemical devices, such as solid oxide membranes or other products for sustainable applications.

Conduct statistical studies to analyze or compare production costs for sustainable and nonsustainable designs.

Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Operation Monitoring→ Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Quality Control Analysis→ Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Operation and Control→ Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Troubleshooting→ Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Equipment Maintenance→ Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Equipment Selection→ Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Mathematics→ Using mathematics to solve problems.

Repairing→ Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Systems Analysis→ Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Systems Evaluation→ Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment→ Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic principles.

Controlling Machines and Processes→ Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment→ Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical principles.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Explain engineering drawings, specifications, or other technical information.

Design industrial equipment.

Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.

Create graphical representations of mechanical equipment.

Document technical design details.

Test products for functionality or quality.

Provide technical guidance to other personnel.

Assemble equipment or components.

Conduct quantitative failure analyses of operational data.

Document design or operational test results.

Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.

Estimate operational costs.

Schedule operational activities.

Test characteristics of materials or structures.

Assist engineers or scientists with research.

Direct construction activities.

Direct installation activities.

Monitor the productivity or efficiency of industrial operations.

Create graphical representations of industrial production systems.

Analyze costs and benefits of proposed designs or projects.

Maintain mechanical equipment.

Analyze green technology design requirements.

Design electromechanical equipment or systems.

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Control Precision→ The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Mathematical Reasoning→ The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Auditory Attention→ The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

Far Vision→ The ability to see details at a distance.

Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Visual Color Discrimination→ The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Depth Perception→ The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Multilimb Coordination→ The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Originality→ The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speed of Closure→ The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Engineering and Technology→ Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Mechanical→ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Production and Processing→ Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Design→ Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Computers and Electronics→ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Clerical→ Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Physics→ Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Analytical or scientific software -- Data acquisition software; Finite element method FEM software; The MathWorks MATLAB; ANSYS; ANSYS FLUENT; Intellisense Intellisuite; ProModel

Computer aided design CAD software -- e.g., Autodesk Inventor; Autodesk AutoCAD; Mathsoft Mathcad; Bentley Microstation; Dassault Systemes SolidWorks; PTC Pro/ENGINEER Mechanica

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software -- e.g., Stereolithography SLA rapid prototyping systems; TekSoft CAMWorks

Database user interface and query software -- e.g., Microsoft Access

Electronic mail software -- e,g., Microsoft Outlook

Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Google Workspace

Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint

Project management software -- e.g., Confluence; Sapama Projects; Sciforma PPM solution; Xero Projects; Microsoft Project; Easy Projects; Microsoft SharePoint; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management

Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets

Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs

Analytical balances

Angle grinder→ Angle grinders

Bench scales→ Computerized scales

Benchtop centrifuges→ Dual centrifuges

Binocular light compound microscopes→ Binocular compound microscopes

Boring machines

Calorimeters→ Oxygen bomb calorimeters

Comparators→ Optical comparators

Compression testers→ Universal testing machines

Coordinate measuring machines CMM

Drill press or radial drill→ Drill presses

Dynamometers→ Absorption dynamometers

Fatigue testers→ Fatigue testing machines

Flow sensors→ Microfluidic particle imaging velocimetry PIV systems

Flow transmitters→ Wind tunnels

Fume hoods or cupboards→ Fume hoods

Fused deposition modeling machine→ Fused deposition modeling FDM machines

Hardness testers→ Digital hardness testers

Hydraulic press frames→ Hydraulic presses

Impact testers

Induction heaters→ Heat treatment furnaces

Injection molding machines→ Plastic injection molding machines

Laboratory benches→ Hydraulic benches; Hydrostatics benches

Laminated object manufacturing machine→ Laminated object manufacturing LOM systems

Load frame→ Manual load frames; Servohydraulic load frames

Metal inert gas welding machine→ Metal inert gas MIG welders

Metal polishing machine→ Polishing machines

Microcontrollers→ Programmable logic controllers PLC

Milling machines→ Micro mills

Notebook computers→ Laptop computers

Personal computers

Photoelastic testing instruments→ Photoelastic testing machines

Pneumatic impact wrenches→ Pneumatic ratchets

Polarimeters

Polishing machines→ Superfinishing machines

Power grinders→ Bench grinders; Centerless grinding machines; Grinding machines; Internal grinding machines (see all 5 examples)

Power saws→ Cold cut chop saws; Dual column bandsaws

Pressure indicators→ Open channel flow apparatuses

Scanners→ Three-dimensional laser digitizers

Selective laser sintering machine→ Selective laser sintering SLS systems

Shears→ Power sheet metal shears

Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding machine→ Shielded arc welding tools

Sound measuring apparatus or decibel meter→ Sound level meters

Spectrometers

Strain gauges→ Electronic strain gauges

Surface grinding machine→ Surface grinding machines

Tension testers→ Tensile testers

Three dimensional printing machine→ Three-dimensional prototyping printer

Torsion testers

Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe→ Lathes; Micro lathes

Tumblers or polishers→ Lapping machines

Vibration testers→ Vibration monitors

Water baths→ Constant temperature baths

Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Recognition→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.