MECHANICAL

ENGINEER

Mechanical Engineers deal with theproduction and use of mechanical power.They design, operate and use all kinds ofmachines and machine tools. They likewisedesign and build engines that producepower from steam, gasoline and othersources which they try to develop toaugment the sources of power.

TasksDesign products and systems to meetprocess requirements, applyingknowledge of engineering principles;Specify system components or directsmodification of products to ensureconformance with engineering designand performance specification;Oversee installation to ensure machinesand equipment are installed andfunctioning according to specification;Coordinate building fabrication, andinstallation of product design andoperation, maintenance, and repairactivities to utilize machines andequipment;Inspect, evaluate, and arrange fieldinstallation and recommend designmodifications to eliminate machine orsystem malfunctions;Investigate equipment failures anddifficulties, diagnose faulty operationand make recommendation tomaintenance crew;Alter or modify design to obtainspecified functional and operationalperformance;Conduct experiments to test andanalyze existing design and equipmentto obtain data on performance ofproduct, and prepare reports;Assist drafter in developing structuraldesign of product, using drafting toolsor computer-assisted design/draftingequipment and software;Test ability of machines to perform tasks;Select or design tools to meetspecification, using manuals, draftingtools, computer and specializedsoftware programs;

Develop models of alternate processingmethods to test feasibility ornewapplications of systemcomponents, and recommendimplementation of procedures;Confer with establishment personneland engineers to implement operatingprocedures and resolve systemmalfunction, and to provide technicalinformation;Plan and direct engineering personnelin fabrication of test control apparatusamd equipment and developprocedures for testing products;

Basic Educational RequirementA five-year course leading to a

bachelor’s degree in MechanicalEngineering is the minimum requirement. Agraduate must also pass the licensureexamination given by the ProfessionalRegulation Commission (PRC). Graduatedegrees are available and may be takenfor advanced jobs, and are usually requiredfor college teaching.

Skills and CompetenciesStrong numerical skills;Reading and oral comprehension;Analytical skills;Deductive reasoning;Technology design;Computer literate;Solid understanding of key conceptsincluding mechanics, kinematics,thermodynamics and energy.

Physical Attributes and CharacteristicsCreative;Flexible;Curious;Detail-oriented;Able to work as part of a team.

Salary/CompensationLocally, the monthly basic salary of an

mechanical engineer may differ dependingon the indusrty he is employed: P16,536(electronics), P21,505 (non-metals), P31,193(Transport), and P21,289 (hotels).

Abroad,mechanical engineers receivea monthly salary ranging from $5,023 to$7,739.

Prospects for Career AdvancementA Mechanical Engineer who has

undergone apprenticeship training throughdifferent activites in a power company,have the opportunity to assume asupervisory or managerial position. Thosewho don’t have the inclination to bemanagers follow a parallel careeer bybecoming experts or specialists in the longrun.

This group is given specializedassisgnments and become staff engineersor corporate specialist.

Employment OpportunitiesMechanical engineering is one of the

broadest engineering disciplines.Mechanical Engineers may work inproduction operations in manufacturing oragriculture, maintenance, or technicalsales, others may also work as administratorsor managers.

Cost of Education *In a public university, a course in

Mechanical Engineering is approximatelyP3,800 per semester or a total of P38,000 forthe entire five year course.

In a private institution the total cost mayrange between P295,000 in less expensiveschools to P495,000 in the more expensiveschools.

* Based on tuition fee rates for school year 2007-2008