So, You’re Majoring In Engineering At Community College?

by A Guest Author

In the broadest of senses, engineers take the principles of mathematics and physics, and use them to design products to meet certain needs. Engineers find work in a variety of fields, because their skills can be applied to any mechanical system. For instance, mechanical engineers specialize in the study of inertia, work, force, friction and center of balance, making them ideally suited to work on complex systems like actuators and auto engines.

The average engineer is only responsible for a single component, and they work within a set of requirements in order to find the best solution to a problem. An engineer has to be able to work well with others, because it often takes several minds to arrive at a solution. The complexity of modern systems means that it will take a team of engineers to manage them; they work together to determine which parts are vital, what can be left out, and what can be improved.

The majority of engineering positions require a four-year degree from an accredited university. Degree programs require courses in physics and mathematics, and a broad understanding of engineering theory. Students participate in design products during their schooling; in many cases, first-year students work on robotics projects, refining their work as they work their way through the program.

Many engineering students also take internships because of their hands-on nature, which is ideally suited to the profession. While most entry level positions only require a bachelors degree, those who earn graduate degrees are in a better position to teach or to perform academic research. Like almost all engineers, mechanical engineers take a fundamentals exam when they graduate from college. After four years of on-the-job training, they’re ready to take the professional engineer (PE) exam, and if passed, they are certified as professional engineers.

Once on the job, an engineer may read/interpret blueprints, schematics and electronic reports. They will work with other personnel to follow protocol, fix issues, and provide technical support. Engineers are responsible for the research and analysis of design proposals, manuals and other information to determine the cost of a program or design.

As far as wages are concerned, most mechanical engineers fall near the middle of the charts when compared to other engineering positions. Because of a sluggish job market, the average salary of an entry level engineer was less than $60,000 in 2009 (the last year for which data is available). In that year, the top 10% earned almost $115,000.

Of all the various engineering occupations, mechanical engineering is one of the broadest. The job description of an engineer is variable, but there is a lot of commonality among the various fields. All engineers design, build, test, and repair vehicles, tools, equipment and engines- if it has moving parts, an engineer helped to put it together.

About The Author:

This article was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Tennant Rubber. Take a look at their site by clicking here.

Photo: Perfect Zero

This post was written by A Guest Author

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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

Guest September 30, 2012 at 10:47 pm

Pretty! This was an incredibly wonderful post. Thank you for providing this info.

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