What can you do with a mechanical engineering degree?

Let's explore the different jobs and career paths that you can pursue with a mechanical engineering degree. In this video, we explore the 13 primary career paths for mechanical engineering and how they fit into the larger engineering process.

[joebartlett]

My Mechanical Engineering degree led to this career path. When I graduated my "specialty" was heat transfer and fluid mechanics. After 5 years I was supervising a group of 12 engineers doing upfront engineering and equipment specifications. Couple of years later I was doing energy conservation work in a refinery. Got sent to Indonesia for a big oilfield project and first assignment was to do the civil design for steam generators. Then I was specifying instruments. Then I was running project controls which include planning, budgeting and procurement. Was a construction manager for a while, more project controls, contract manager and eventually project manager. Never really did the same job twice. Even when it had the same job title there was a different client, different processes and procedures. Loved every minute of it (on average), and particularly loved the variety of the work I got to do. Each job was a new challenge.

[nlabanok]

Mechanical engineer here too...35 years in. A lot of ME's gravitate over the course of their careers towards project management as it exercises a wide set of skills. Also, anywhere within an organization where there's a system implemented, be it a system of business processes, IT, quality systems, design systems, improvement systems.... there is demand in systems redesign / improvement for an ME's broad skillset and ability to synthesize multiple functions and solve complex problems. Finally, second some of the comments here that A LOT of seemingly unrelated careers from finance to medicine are good career options for an ME...analytical skills, ability to deal with complexity, structured problem solving all translate very effectively into these other fields.

[Ramsarius]

Mech eng here. There's only two big ones that I think you missed. Facilities engineer and Systems engineer. These are pretty essential in a lot of companies, whether they have a physical product or not and mech engineers fit really well into them.

[dickJohnsonpeter]

I am an engineer working for Thysencrupp, currently working on blade design for supercharger like air compressors for factories with a new screw design. I want my son to be an engineer if he wants. He seems to have the nak for everything necessary at three years old. Everything we see that isn't totally natural was engineered by someone. It's fulfilling.

[MountainFisher]

Mech Eng was my first degree back in 1974. My first job was in R&D at Garrett AiResearch. Hired me because I worked my way through college by working at my brother's sheetmetal shop. First had to study Drafting, no Cad-Cam then.

[TheRealGrnGuy]

I took 4 cad classes during high school and I loved them, yet I still went into college as a computer science major for some reason. I’m so far behind my competition as a programmer, so I think I’m going to switch to mechanical engineering. Can’t wait for the fall!

[aross]

I'm what I call a "working engineer" who got into the position by staying in the same field for 20 years. I have a BA, not an engineering degree. Now I'm in the spot that most like me end up - can't advance beyond a junior engineer level without an actual engineering education. I've gone back to school for Mechanical. Your videos have been a good way to remind me why I'm punishing myself with school as an "old" man. Thanks!

[evervillalobos]

Hey man, your videos are great! You deserve way more views.

[mokcbri]

Learning a lot from your content man. Thank you!

[albertnile]

i am a third-year mechanical engineering student in South Africa and I love your videos.

[douglasstrother]

My ME colleagues in the spacecraft biz are involved with shock/vibration analysis & test, thermal analysis & fatigue and radiation effects.

[Moist_yet_Crispy]

I haven't started my Mech Eng degree yet. I'd love to see a breakdown of what classes would be best to take at the same time BUT more so, what classes should be taken solo (or part time class load), as in the only class you're taking for that semester kind of thing. That should smooth the more difficult patches correct? Thanks in advance! Love this content!

[davidbeavers]

This is a super underrated channel. Really solid content and production as well as entertaining personality.
(Tooling engineers > anything else)

[hassancoleman]

You deserve more subscribers! Great video I am graduating this month and just committed to GATECH for mechanical engineering. I was interested in the field and sort of had a basics of what I wanted to do with it but this video was very insightful. Thank You! Also, do you have any recommendations on what I should minor in as an engineer?

[nxte]

Starting my integrated masters in mechanical engineering in a month, can’t wait

[joeshumo]

I work as a headhunter in engineering.
When there is a problem that an engineer or engineers of whatever kind have failed to the point where there is no more momentum and the project is essentially doomed and appears impossible, I get the call.
The most interesting thing probably about my position, is my success rate in light of of never having once gone to school for it much less a having earned a degree.
Of course I’ve scoured the world for information and am constantly studying, going on 35 years now.
But. It’s because of my problem solving abilities in the face of what seems to be insurmountable failure that keeps me in business. I have a knack for seeing things other people miss. Most engineers all come from the same school of thought and get jammed up in some very stereotypical ways across all fields.
I don’t know why I’ve had so much success with this other than it’s what I’m doing wether I’m being paid to or not. I just have always been at it since I was a small child in my family’s machine shop to where I’m at now.
I just love solving problems and finding solutions.

[airgunacademy]

mechanical engineer works largely in manufacturing. it doesnt have to be car factories such as tesla. even a golf equipment factory needs a mechanical engineer.

[AntVaz]

Quick question, could I get a NASA/Space Engineering job via a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering? If so, which ones? And what opportunities could a Master's degree open for me that a Bachelor's degree couldn't? I'm curious for all of these because I'm at a stage where I need to choose what I'm going to be specifically focusing on in College for the far future, so I figured that I could start researching the benefits now that I've started leaning more towards mechanical engineering as my most attractive option.

[frankish]

One sad thing is if you are an ME in say the UK or Australia, literally anyone who can wire a plug, fix a dripping faucet of work on a car is called an "engineer!".. Drives me up the freaking wall having to explain just how much work becoming a REAL engineer is, especially if you have a Professional Engineering license like I do.

[PrettyVicious]

i'm #11 and idk how i ended up in this job but its cool doing research to be the best i can be everyday