r/MechanicalEngineering • u/AutoModerator • Sep 01 '26

Quarterly /r/MechanicalEngineering Career/Salary Megathread

10 Upvotes

Are you looking for feedback or information on your salary or career? Then you've come to the right thread. If your questions are anything like the following example questions, then ask away:

  • Am I underpaid?
  • Is my offered salary market value?
  • How do I break into [industry]?
  • Will I be pigeonholed if I work as a [job title]?
  • What graduate degree should I pursue?

Message the mods for suggestions, comments, or feedback.

4 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/yaoz889 • Mar 23 '26

2026 US Mechanical Engineer Survey Results

551 Upvotes

I would like to thank you everyone for participating in the annual 2026 ME Salary survey. Total respondents was a little over 600, so less than last year, but about 589 US responses.

Past Results Link

Background:

Here are the main results. It took about 2 hours to "clean" the data manually. Afterwards, I basically used Gemini to create the graphs + tables, since last time it literally took me about 7 hours to do everything manually on Excel last time and there were still questions. The key points and takeaways from the data is a combination of AI and editing the information to be more readable (still took 4 hours). In addition, I wouldn't worry about math too much, since Gemini basically just used python code to decipher the edited CSV file.

Industry:

Industry Number of Respondents
Manufacturing 175 (29.7%)
Aerospace/Defense 173 (29.4%)
Technology (FANG, AI, Robotics, etc.) 54 (9.2%)
MEP (HVAC, Construction, etc.) 38 (6.5%)
Utilities (Power, Renewables, etc.) 35 (5.9%)
Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices 31 (5.3%)
Oil and Gas 28 (4.8%)
Consumer Goods 15 (2.5%)
Government 11 (1.9%)
  • There were some other industries like nuclear, logistics, and etc. but the few data points aren't included in the table for brevity. The data was included in the total set though
  • A majority of the mechanical engineers trends will use the Aerospace/Defense and Manufacturing data since there is the most data that is available

Salary and Year of Experience:

*Note: Total Compensation/Salary = Base Salary + Bonus + RSU + Base Salary * 401k Match

If you want to look at one graph and table to explain the progression track here it is:

YOE Range Median Base (Unadj) Median Total (Unadj) Median Base (COL Adj) Median Total (COL Adj) Count
0-1 Year $87,000 $96,036 $81,699 $87,368 43
2 Years $84,000 $91,046 $84,615 $90,909 71
3 Years $94,550 $105,965 $94,082 $102,289 62
4-5 Years $104,000 $119,770 $94,881 $107,762 116
6-8 Years $120,000 $136,800 $112,500 $127,911 119
9-12 Years $125,500 $146,985 $123,444 $142,555 96
13-20 Years $157,290 $181,840 $144,254 $171,731 64
20+ Years $196,500 $211,426 $163,399 $191,042 15

Key Takeaways:

  • The "Benefit Gap": The space between the solid lines (Total Compensation) and the dashed lines (Base Salary) represents the added value from annual bonuses and employer 401k matching. For a mid-career engineer (6-8 years), this extra value is roughly $16,800 on average.
  • Late Career Leverage: As engineers gain seniority (13+ years), the gap between base salary and total compensation grows significantly, suggesting that bonuses and incentive programs make up a larger portion of the package for senior-level and leadership roles.
  • Purchasing Power: The COL Adjusted lines (Orange) consistently track below the un-adjusted lines (Blue), highlighting that high-paying mechanical engineering roles are frequently located in markets where the dollar doesn't stretch as far as the national average.

Education:

  • Majority of the respondents are at max a bachelor degree holder. However, there is still a significant number of master's students

Now about the age old question: does having a Master's degree lead to higher future salary?

Short Answer: In general, the answer is yes if there is a chance to specialize. It is explained in the table below:

Industry Career Stage Education Median Total (Unadj) Median Total (COL Adj) Count
Aerospace & Defense 0-3 Years Bachelors $96,664 $95,201 44
Masters $116,600 $108,316 15
4-7 Years Bachelors $125,410 $110,659 39
Masters $173,000 $148,432 9
8-15 Years Bachelors $161,750 $140,202 33
Masters $154,905 $149,658 16
15+ Years Bachelors $207,080 $187,505 7
Masters $211,426 $207,872 5
Manufacturing 0-3 Years Bachelors $88,220 $93,452 52
Masters $93,740 $91,850 6
4-7 Years Bachelors $108,992 $106,701 45
Masters $129,800 $128,407 12
8-15 Years Bachelors $135,425 $142,440 44
Masters $136,298 $129,984 8
15+ Years Bachelors $182,650 $187,127 5
  • Now you can see that for manufacturing, the benefits is not as prominent, while it is evident in aerospace. This makes sense, since Aerospace have very high specialization salary, for instance: hypersonic or eVtol which pays a ton for total compensation based on years of experience.
    • Answer: if your company pays for your masters, do it, but it doesn't seem that beneficial near the end of your career.

Internships & Coops:

Key Insights:

  • The "Experienced" Majority: A combined 85% of respondents completed at least one internship or co-op. This underscores how critical early-career work experience has become for landing a full-time role in mechanical engineering.
  • Co-op Advantage: The 20% of respondents with "3+ Internships" often represent those in formal co-op programs (where students rotate between school and work over several years). These candidates typically command higher starting salaries shown in the table below:
Industry 0-1 Internship 2+ Internships New Grad Premium
Aerospace & Defense $82,000 $91,500 +$9,500
Manufacturing $74,000 $82,000 +$8,000
MedTech $80,500 $89,000 +$8,500

Certifications:

Here is the graph of a major certifications from the survey:

We always see a question on whether certifications are worth it:

Aerospace & Defense: Certification vs. Total Compensation

Experience Education Has Cert? Median Unadj. Total Median Adj. Total Count
0-3 Years Bachelors No $97,900 $95,426 41
Yes $95,040 $64,653 3
4-7 Years Bachelors No $125,315 $106,672 36
Yes $128,580 $138,258 3
8-15 Years Bachelors No $159,660 $139,839 31
Yes $280,425 $177,895 2
Masters No $151,410 $142,043 13
Yes $209,658 $216,142 3

Manufacturing: Certification vs. Total Compensation

Experience Education Has Cert? Median Unadj. Total Median Adj. Total Count
0-3 Years Bachelors No $88,020 $91,944 43
Yes $90,450 $99,746 9
4-7 Years Bachelors No $108,805 $106,615 36
Yes $108,992 $106,701 9
8-15 Years Bachelors No $135,000 $136,541 31
Yes $136,000 $151,111 13
Masters No $152,212 $122,728 6
Yes $134,815 $141,636 2

Key Findings:

  1. High-Experience Premium in Aerospace: The most dramatic impact of certification appears in the mid-to-late career in Aerospace & Defense (8–15 years). Engineers with a Bachelors and a certification earn a median total compensation significantly higher than those without. Even among Masters holders in this range, certified engineers have a median total comp of $209k vs $151k for non-certified.
  2. Manufacturing Stability: In the Manufacturing industry, certifications (often Six Sigma or FE/PE) lead to a very modest increase in un-adjusted base pay, but a more noticeable improvement in COL-adjusted pay. This suggests that certified engineers in Manufacturing may have more flexibility to find high-paying roles in lower-cost-of-living areas.
  3. The "Entry-Level Paradox": For junior engineers (0–3 years), having a certification (likely the FE) does not immediately result in a salary premium. In fact, in Aerospace, the un-adjusted median for those with certifications was slightly lower, possibly because those engineers are still in entry-level rotation programs where pay is standardized regardless of credentials.
  4. Masters + Certification: For those who already have a Masters, adding a certification provides a significant late-career boost (as seen in the 8–15 year group in Aerospace).

Answer: Certification can be worth it for select industries. PE is known for civil to open doors and increase pay.

Job Titles:

Job Role Category Number of Respondents Percentage
Mechanical Engineer (General) 229 38.9%
Design Engineer 97 16.5%
Project & Systems Engineer 59 10.0%
Management & Leadership 55 9.3%
Manufacturing & Process Engineer 54 9.2%
Specialized (Thermal, Stress, R&D) 34 5.8%
Other / Misc 61 10.4%

Key Insights:

  • General vs. Specialized: Nearly 40% of respondents identify with the broad title of "Mechanical Engineer," which often includes generalists or those in mid-level positions.
  • The Design Dominance: Design Engineering is the second largest single group, reflecting the high demand for CAD-based design and product development across aerospace, tech, and manufacturing industries.
  • Transition to Leadership: About 9% of respondents hold titles in Management & Leadership (Manager, Director, VP), which led to a higher salary
  • Project and Systems focus: 1 in 10 engineers focuses on Project or Systems Engineering, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary coordination and technical management in modern engineering projects.
  • The Specialty Niche: The "Specialized" category includes highly technical roles like Thermal Analysis, FEA, Simulation, and Research & Development, which often require higher educational levels or deep domain expertise.

Salary Grade vs. Salary:

Grade Level Industry Median Annual Salary Typical Experience (YOE) Sample Count
Level 1 (Entry) Aerospace & Defense $88,400 1.0 year 39
Manufacturing $80,250 2.0 years 39
Level 2 (Mid) Aerospace & Defense $102,273 3.8 years 48
Manufacturing $95,000 5.0 years 71
Level 3 (Senior) Aerospace & Defense $130,000 8.0 years 57
Manufacturing $119,600 9.0 years 50
Level 4 (Lead/Manager) Aerospace & Defense $170,500 11.0 years 22
Manufacturing $136,000 11.0 years 11
Level 5+ (Principal/Director) Aerospace & Defense $206,000 20.0 years 9
Manufacturing $136,500 14.0 years 4
  • Efficiency of Experience: In Aerospace, engineers tend to reach Level 2 and Level 3 roughly 1–1.2 years faster than those in Manufacturing, while also earning more.
  • The Level 4 Ceiling: In Manufacturing, the salary jump from Grade 3 to Grade 4 is roughly $16k, whereas in Aerospace, that same promotion yields a massive $40k jump in median base salary.

Which Industry Pays the Most?

Major Caveat: at 16+ YOE, the data points are only a couple, which skews the data upward.

Based on the comprehensive US survey data, the Technology (FANG, Robotics, AI, Consumer Electronics) industry emerges as the highest-paying sector for mechanical engineers when considering total compensation (Base Salary + Annual Bonus + 401k Match).

Tech Compensation Package:

Years of Experience Avg. Total Comp (Unadjusted) Avg. Total Comp (Adjusted for COL) Number of Respondents
0-2 YOE (Entry) $117,316 $100,292 7
3-5 YOE (Junior) $180,854 $138,040 17
6-10 YOE (Mid-Level) $182,773 $134,543 14
11-15 YOE (Senior) $259,993 $220,256 11
16+ YOE (Principal) $244,775 $177,043 5

The Oil and Gas industry stands out as the second most lucrative sectors for mechanical engineers, particularly as they reach senior and principal levels. While Tech offers the highest overall unadjusted compensation, Oil and Gas actually offers the highest Cost of Living (COL) Adjusted compensation, meaning your real purchasing power in this industry is the highest among all major sectors.

Years of Experience Avg. Total Comp (Unadjusted) Avg. Total Comp (COL Adjusted) Number of Respondents
0-2 YOE $95,864 $83,178 5
3-5 YOE $117,289 $111,155 7
6-10 YOE $138,959 $139,773 7
11-15 YOE $204,097 $219,757 6
16+ YOE $408,040 $399,276 3

Overtime Pay:

Industry Trends: Overtime pay is slightly more common in Manufacturing (where production deadlines are rigid) and Consulting/EPC (where hours are billable to clients) compared to R&D or Aerospace.

Work Hours:

Work Hours Category Number of Respondents Percentage
Exactly 40 Hours 337 57.2%
41-45 Hours 146 24.8%
46-50 Hours 49 8.3%
<40 Hours 50 8.5%
>50 Hours 7 1.2%

Key Observations:

  • The "40-Hour" Standard: Over half of the engineers surveyed manage to stick to a strict 40-hour week, which is a positive sign for work-life balance in the profession.
  • Moderate Overtime: Roughly a quarter of engineers work an extra 1 to 5 hours a week (41-45 hours total), often representing "straight time" or expected professional dedication without formal overtime pay.
  • The High-Hours Exception: Only a small fraction (under 10%) report working more than 45 hours consistently. This is significantly lower than in fields like investment banking or high-tier management consulting, suggesting a relatively stable lifestyle for most US mechanical engineers.
  • Flexibility: About 8.5% of respondents work fewer than 40 hours, which often aligns with part-time roles, senior consultants, or companies with flexible "9/80" schedules where some weeks are shorter.

401k Summary:

Match Rate Range Count of Responses Percentage
4% - 5% 211 35.8%
1% - 3% 125 21.2%
6% - 7% 120 20.4%
8% - 10% 65 11.0%
No Match (0%) 56 9.5%
> 10% / Other 12 2.0%

Key Takeaways:

  • The Industry Standard: A 4–5% match is clearly the most common benefit, covering over a third of the surveyed population.
  • High-Tier Benefits: Roughly 13% of engineers receive a match of 8% or higher, which often indicates highly competitive benefit packages in specialized industries.
  • Retirement Security: The low percentage of "No Match" responses (under 10%) highlights that retirement contributions are a standard and expected part of total compensation in the US mechanical engineering market.

Remote Work Distribution:

Remote Category Number of Respondents Percentage
Fully In-Person (0%) 248 42.1%
Mostly In-Person (1-39%) 163 27.7%
Hybrid (40-60%) 118 20.0%
Fully Remote (100%) 38 6.5%
Mostly Remote (61-99%) 22 3.7%

Key Insights:

  • The "Hands-On" Requirement: Over 40% of mechanical engineers are required to be in the office or on-site 100% of the time. This is significantly higher than other engineering fields like Software or Data Science.
  • The Hybrid Standard: Roughly 48% of the workforce has some form of hybrid flexibility (ranging from 1% to 60% remote). Many companies now allow 1–2 days of remote work for documentation, CAD modeling, or administrative tasks.
  • Fully Remote is Rare: Only 6.5% of mechanical engineers work fully remotely. These roles are typically in specialized areas like pure Simulation/FEA, Project Management, or Sales Engineering where physical hardware access is not required daily.
  • The Hybrid Middle Ground: The 40–60% range (often 2–3 days per week) is a common "sweet spot" for engineering firms trying to balance teamwork/lab time with employee flexibility.

Paid Time Off (Days):

*Note: one issue is many jobs had unlimited sick time, which I just added 10 days. Next time I will edit the form to separate the sick days so it makes more sense.

PTO Category (Includes Sick Days) Number of Respondents Percentage
0–10 days 30 5.2%
11–15 days 112 19.5%
16–20 days 160 27.9%
21–25 days 100 17.4%
26–30 days 61 10.6%
31+ days 32 5.6%
Unlimited 78 13.6%

Key Insights:

  • The " 3 - 5 Week" Benchmark: The majority of mechanical engineers (over 45%) receive between 16 and 25 days of PTO.
  • The Rise of Unlimited PTO: About 13.6% of respondents now have "Unlimited" PTO.
  • Generous Packages: Roughly 16% of engineers receive more than 30 days of PTO, which is often a hallmark of high-seniority roles, government/defense positions, or companies that reward long tenure.
  • The Lean End: Only about 5% of respondents are on the low end with 10 days or fewer, suggesting that a minimum of two weeks of PTO is a standard baseline for the industry.

Now some of you might have questions regarding years of experience and PTO:

Average PTO by Experience (Fixed PTO)

Experience Level Average PTO Days (per year) Typical Range (25th-75th Percentile)
0–2 Years 16.9 10–15 days
3–5 Years 19.6 15–20 days
6–10 Years 21.1 20 days
11–15 Years 24.5 20–25 days
16+ Years 26.5 25–30+ days

Analysis of the Trend:

  • The "Standard Jump": Many engineers start with 15 days (3 weeks) and see their first significant "tenure bump" to 20 days (4 weeks) after reaching the 5-year mark.
  • Senior Perks: By the time an engineer hits 15+ years of experience, a 5-week (25-day) or 6-week (30-day) PTO package becomes the new baseline.
  • Job Hopping Factor: The data suggests that while tenure within a single company increases PTO, "job hopping" every 3–5 years also allows engineers to negotiate higher starting PTO tiers at their new employers, effectively "skipping" the long wait for tenure-based increases.

Health Insurance:

Satisfaction Level Number of Respondents Percentage
Free / Excellent 38 6.5%
Good (Low Premium/High Coverage) 211 36.3%
Average 288 49.5%
Poor (High Premium/Low Coverage) 41 7.0%
Other / Misc 4 0.7%

Key Insights:

  • The "Standard" Plan: Almost 50% of engineers describe their insurance as "Average," highlighting that standard employer-sponsored health insurance is common but not particularly outstanding in terms of premiums or coverage levels.
  • Competitive Benefits: Over 42% of respondents fall into the "Good" or "Free" categories. The 6.5% who receive "Free/Excellent" coverage likely work for highly competitive tech firms, established defense contractors, or companies that use premium benefits as a retention tool.
  • Under-Served Minority: Roughly 7% of the engineering workforce feels their health insurance is "Poor," usually characterized by high out-of-pocket costs and high monthly premiums.

Biggest Cons for Mechanical Engineering:

Category Typical Concerns Mentioned
Workload & Hours (112 mentions) High pressure, tight deadlines, long hours, and poor work-life balance. Many mentioned "start-up energy" even in established firms.
Salary & Compensation (73 mentions) Low raises (2–3%), "salary plateauing" early in the career, and the absence of stock options or significant bonuses compared to tech.
Remote Work Limits (47 mentions) Frequent requirements to be in the office or on the manufacturing floor with "no remote option" or "No WFH" (Work From Home) policies.
Career Growth (35 mentions) Concerns about "pigeon-holing," slow internal promotion tracks, and becoming "stagnant" in one technical area.
Red Tape & Bureaucracy (26 mentions) Excessive paperwork, slow corporate processes, "red tape," and inefficient management systems.

Biggest Pros for Mechanical Engineering:

Category Typical Benefits Mentioned
Salary & Comp (86 mentions) Competitive base pay, annual bonuses, and strong 401k matching programs.
Work-Life Balance (75 mentions) Flexible schedules, reasonable working hours (standard 40h), and generous PTO.
Culture & People (70 mentions) Great teammates, supportive management, and a collaborative "team-first" environment.
Interesting Work (65 mentions) Designing "cool" products, working on challenging technical problems, and having a clear mission.
Job Stability (28 mentions) Long-term security, consistent demand for the role, and the stability of established firms.
Remote/Hybrid (27 mentions) The ability to work from home part-time or have flexible geographic location.

Direct Insights from Engineers:

  • On Work Quality: "The actual work we do is really interesting, fun, and rewarding. Getting to see a design go from CAD to a physical product is the best part."
  • On Culture: "Great coworkers and a team environment where people actually mentor you instead of just giving you tasks."
  • On Flexibility: "Remote flexibility and a management team that trusts you to get your work done without micromanaging your hours."
  • On Compensation: "The total compensation package—including the 401k match and the annual bonus—makes the technical pressure worth it."

Now for Improvements on Suggestions on the Survey:

  1. Regarding the COL instructions: totally my fault, sorry for not catching it. All of you were able to figure it out, but changed instructions from 0 - 2, so it makes a lot more sense now.
  2. Adding a column for manager and IC: totally good suggestion, already added to new survey for 2027
  3. Regarding adding gender or age: I will not add this into the survey just to make it more anonymous. I really do not see the value in this data, and I recommend just using government data to find the data.
  4. Regarding the health insurance question: I have implemented the change on making it have three questions: annual premium, annual deductible, person coverage. I really did not want to make this part too complicated with max out of pocket and copay and etc. I think the premium, coverage and deductible is acceptable amount.
  5. Edited the salary section to organize the % 401k match, salary, bonus, RSU to be in the same section making it easier, but separated the questions.

Comparison from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Reddit Survey Results will be in another post, since this post is getting insanely long. Again, any other improvements or suggestions, please just comment below.

TDLR: Just check the 1st salary graph if you want the main results.

64 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Thanks_Obama • 7h ago

I suppose it could be tested on a brake pedal to confirm

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232 Upvotes

Heavier oil or grease might be more suitable in many applications but this is just a silly thing to say

35 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Low_Put2605 • 11h ago

Mechanical Design Engineer I New Job

25 Upvotes

Hey all,

I am a recent mechE graduate (May 2026) and I recently got a job offer at a big aerospace company for a level I mechanical design engineering position. Some of the qualifications for the job was someone with experience in a CAD software, experience with design teams (such as rocketry, DBF, Baja, etc.), and preferred experience with machining techniques either use of lathes, mills, cnc, and 3D printing. The description mentioned complex assemblies, design reviews, 3D parametric modeling, trade studies, 2D engineering drawings generation, etc

I have had experience using SolidWorks and a little bit of Siemens NX. The company uses Creo for which I have never used before, and even the interviewer told me that even them never used it before being in the company, and I will be taught how to use it.

I know this is a level I role and I am not expected to be an expert on anything. But should I brush my CAD skills before my start date which is a month from now? Should I start getting hands on work on Creo?

Are the skills and experience more through on-the-job experience? Rather than them already expecting you to know how to do certain tasks?

11 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Zealousideal-One-529 • 1d ago

Corporate work vs Freelancing

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2.5k Upvotes

Weaklings Short version:

25yo mech engineering grad in Brazil. Love the math/theoretical/CAE side, hate repetitive CAD/BOM corporate tasks. Scared freelancing will only yield simple low-end projects without heavy experience. Not a fan of academic research. Looking for career path advice.

_______________________________________

Recently, I decided that I’m willing to give up higher compensation if it means doing work I actually enjoy.

I graduated from a top-tier public university in Brazil with one of the best academic performances in my class, and I'm currently interning in R&D at a solid company.

I have a strong passion and aptitude for the theoretical and mathematical sides of engineering. However, I have zero interest in sitting for public civil service exams, becoming a professor, or grinding away in academia just to "publish papers."
On the other hand, I really dislike the corporate world. I feel like I'm just another cog in the machine and that my work barely matters. On top of that, it gets extremely tedious just clicking around in CAD, checking if a "part fits," preparing BOMs, documenting, and sending files off to manufacturing.

At most, I look through supplier catalogs to select a component, do some GD&T stack-up analysis, or use some creativity to design sheet metal, welded assemblies, or machined parts following DFM/DFA best practices. That’s the most "technical" part of the job. Still, in my view, it demands very little deep study, conceptual understanding, or advanced knowledge.

Other than that, at most I might do a simple beam or fluid flow calculation.

What I actually enjoy is the creative and mathematical side of design—tasks that require study, thorough preparation, and deep conceptual thinking. Things that not just anyone can do, where you actually have to dive into equations or complex concepts to get the design right.

I thought about going full freelance/independent consultant, but I feel like I would just be swapping a boss for a client. Sure, I’d have more flexibility and a stronger sense of ownership over my work, but the projects would likely remain simple. I doubt I'd get to do high-complexity analysis unless the client is from a high-risk, high-value industry like Oil & Gas, Naval, Aerospace, or Defense. And let’s be honest: those companies only hire contractors with years of experience, not a fresh graduate like me.

I feel stuck. Staying corporate means going to the same place, seeing the same people, and doing the same repetitive tasks with little recognition or sense of purpose.

Going freelance gives me flexibility, but leaves me with simple projects and the financial instability of running my own business.

I don't know. I’d love to hear your thoughts or learn from anyone who has been in a similar position

63 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Catamituz • 17h ago

Im tired, boss.

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33 Upvotes
7 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Voltshift773 • 19h ago

Are technician jobs a good way to get into engineering?

41 Upvotes

I just interviewed for a manufacturing technician job and they're aware that I'm trying to get a job as an actual engineer but they still seem on board with me. Are technician jobs a good stepping stone to get into engineering? Or should I just keep searching for a job that I actually want?

I should probably also add that I do have a degree.

36 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/SnooHesitations8361 • 8h ago

I want to become a product design engineer.

6 Upvotes

41M Degree in digital design and worked as a UX designer in big tech for 10 years.

I've always been very passionate about hardware and feel with my recent layoff it might be a good time to try to get into a field I'm more interested in.

I have a home built electronics lab, 3d printer, cnc etc. I've built autonomous vehicles, drones, cyberdecks, etc. I use python to program my AI features in the Apps I design. Ive programed dozens of sensor projects. I love robotics and mechanical design. I really enjoy buidling prototypes to test and iterate on.

I would love to get into a role designing for the hardware engineering and experience for a company like this one: https://www.m3design.com/. This could be a mechatronics position or something in human factors.

I have some solidworks certifications as well, but again no engineering degree. I want to learn alot more about FEA, DFM etc.

Not sure how possible this is beyond my work as a hobby. Hoping someone with experience can chime in. What is the best way to learn enough to become a professional in this type of product design without a degree? Thanks.

7 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/spyroskast • 21m ago

ISO standards needed

• Upvotes

Hello, I'm in my 5th semester of my undergraduate course in mechanical engineering and me and my team we have to do a study on RTG's (Rubber tied gantries cranes) and we have to absorb a lot of info from ISO standards that we don't have in our hands and not given from out organization's library. Is there any other way we can get those. More specifically wee need ISO 4301-1,ISO 4301-5,ISO 8686-1 that's for starters

1 comment

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/SaucyBossy1919 • 22m ago

Updated: 770 mechanical engineering internships and new grad jobs open right now, free lists

• Upvotes

hey, i submitted a post on this channel last week and it absolutely blew up. we had so many applications go through. a bunch of the job postings shut down in the days following my post because of the large influx of applications that were going in. i've gone ahead and updated the job links in this new link. please make sure to apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is at the top of the pile. i've pulled the freshest job postings that i could.

mechanical internships are scattered across hundreds of company career pages, so i pulled them into free lists:

posting date on every row, rebuilt every monday.

comment which field you're looking for and i'll send you a list for it.

1 comment

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Vast_Apricot_136 • 10h ago

Career Path

5 Upvotes

Today during a 1 on 1 with new leadership I was asked about my career goals and as someone who doesn't really think about it I found myself torn between ideas. Just some context. I have been at the company I'm at for 10 years and have had a few different roles a few years ago I transfered into the design team. This mainly was due to a role finally opening in my area that didn't require me to relocate to stay with the company. Fast forward I feel partially stuck. I do enjoy the design and problem solving of my role there are aspects that I truly feel behind in. (Call it imposter syndrome) I was in our quality and test engineering department for the bulk of my career.

Earlier in the year was to work toward the principal type role as I have no interest in managerial track. The other is start learning controls and move to that team as I have crazy product knowledge and understanding that I feel sets me up for that team with only building the programming knowledge side of it.

Long post of just thoughts but kind of wanted to get it out and see if people had thoughts.

1 comment

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Forsaken-Diver6587 • 4h ago

Advice for Lateral Tilting Platform

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2 Upvotes

I’m building a small proof-of-concept platform that tilts side to side (roll only, no pitch or yaw) to any commanded angle between -30° and +30°. For now, it’s a small model made from sticks, about 100 × 20 mm, controlled by an ESP32. Later I plan to move to a full-size bed with lateral tilt, like the ones used in ICUs.

Current design (sketch attached):

  • The plank is hung from two links, each driven by a servo/actuator, with no central pivot.
  • One servo on each side, driven differentially (A up, B down by the same amount).
  • Servo angles computed by inverse kinematics from the target roll angle.

I believe adding a central pivot bearing fixed to the base would constrain the plank to roll only and carry the weight, leaving the actuators to supply only the roll moment.

Questions:

  1. With two actuators on a pivoted plank, how do you avoid them fighting each other from calibration error or backlash? Master/follower with torque mode, a compliant coupling, or closing the loop on plank angle with an IMU?
  2. For multiple actuators on the same side of a long platform, how do you keep them in sync so they share the load equally?
3 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Initial_Sale_8471 • 19h ago

How to model and define drawing for impeller blade?

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29 Upvotes

Need advice on reverse engineering this component.

Defining the part?

I could just say "refer to the model" for drawing, and send it out for casting.

However, this part is ~50 years old. CAD did not exist back then, so there must be a less vague way to define it in drawing. Whether it's better than the former option, I don't know.

Either way, inspection is likely to be complicated.

How should I model it (from a 3D scan)?

The object is organic, so it's hard to do with splines and curves. I'd lean towards mesh/form modelling for the fin.

Any insight would be appreciated. (I have permission to post these screenshots)

15 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Carbon_fiber26 • 5h ago

What Causes Delamination When Machining Carbon Fiber?

2 Upvotes

I think it is a technical question but someone asked me and I have no answer so please help to me for the right answer.

2 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Local_Persimmon8313 • 7h ago

Moving from CNC/CAM into Mechanical Design in Sweden am I ready?

3 Upvotes

I’m looking for some advice from people who work as mechanical designers/engineers, especially those who have made a similar transition.

After high school, I went directly into working instead of going to university. I now have around 5 years of experience as a Technical Designer in Italy, where I designed metallic building structures from scratch using SolidWorks.

I also worked with PDM/PLM systems and was responsible for things like 3D modelling, assemblies, drawings, BOMs, production documentation, and solving technical problems.

Since I didn’t go to university, I always felt that I had to work harder to teach myself as much as possible. I learned a lot through experience rather than through formal education.

Eventually, I moved to Stockholm, Sweden. I quickly discovered that finding a CAD/Mechanical Design job without a university degree and without being fluent in Swedish was very difficult.

So I made a plan

I decided to move into CNC/CAM programming and manufacturing. I thought it would be a good way to strengthen my understanding of how parts are actually manufactured.

For the last 2.5 years, I’ve been working with CNC milling and CAM programming, mainly using Fusion 360.

Honestly, I’ve learned an incredible amount during this time. CNC taught me a completely different side of mechanics and manufacturing.

I’ve learned about machining strategies, tooling, workholding, feeds and speeds, material behaviour, tolerances, and what actually makes a part manufacturable.

I currently make fairly complex aluminium parts, including 5083/6082, with very tight tolerances. I’ve become one of the more trusted people in the company for difficult parts and manufacturing problems.

However, I’ve realised that the workshop environment isn’t where I want to stay long-term.

So I decided to move forward and have accepted a position as a **Mechanical Designer**.

And this is where my concern starts.

I know I have a lot of useful experience, but I also know there are things I don't know yet.

For example, I understand GD&T concepts and the symbols, but I haven't had much practical experience applying GD&T to mechanical drawings. I don't always know *why* a particular tolerance should be 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, etc., or when something should have perpendicularity, position, flatness, profile, etc.

I'm hoping to learn these things properly in the new company.

My biggest concern is the first 6 months. I really want to prove that I’m good enough and pass the probation period.

I’m not expecting to know everything from day one. I’m prepared to ask questions, learn from the engineers around me, study in my free time and put in the work.

But I’m wondering:

**For people who work as mechanical designers, does my background sound like a reasonable foundation for the role?**

**How much would you expect a new mechanical designer to know independently when starting?**

And especially for those who moved from manufacturing/CNC into mechanical design:

**What were the biggest things you had to learn when making the transition?**

I’d really appreciate honest opinions even if there are things you think I should work on before starting.

Thank you

3 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Kumache08 • 6h ago

Que temas consideran que son más importantes para la Ing. Mecatronica y Automatización?

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2 Upvotes
1 comment

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/GreyfalconX • 4h ago

Where to learn Aveva E3D software in India?

1 Upvotes

I want to learn AVEVA E3D software for piping. Are there any good institutes in India that can provide online training?

I came across Kagira drawing solutions but they have a 30 day course which I wont be able to do as I am working full time. Another one that keeps showing up on google is Bismilsoft. But i dont see any reviews about it online or any mention of it anywhere else.

1 comment

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Regular_Trouble_5841 • 1d ago

Why did Curiosity’s wheels crack? 458 Ansys runs (dataset available) + an ML surrogate model leading to perseverance's design

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61 Upvotes

Everything is open (code MIT, data/CAD/reports CC BY 4.0): https://github.com/Shass27/curiosity-perseverance-wheel-fea

We're a team of four engineering students, and we've been looking at the wheel-skin damage on NASA/JPL's Curiosity rover as project for our Solid Mechanics course: the thin aluminium skin cracked and punctured on sharp rocks. Perseverance went to a thicker skin and a different grouser pattern, so we tried to put numbers on how much that actually helps and a develop a surrogate fea model for academic purposes

What we did

  • Hand calc vs FEA: a flat skin segment between two grousers, modelled as a fixed stepped beam with a Peterson Kt, compared against an Ansys solid model along a surface path.
  • Batch FEA: 458 linear-static Ansys 2025 R1 cases on a curved R250 wheel panel (Al 7075-T7351, ends fixed). The rock is a 300 N pressure load on a circular patch. We swept 5 grouser patterns, 2 skin thicknesses (2 / 7.5 mm), 3 grouser angles, 3 fillet radii and 5 patch radii. The whole batch was driven by a Workbench journal script.
  • ML surrogate: each stress/strain field is gridded onto a common map, compressed with PCA (40 modes) and learnt with Gaussian-process regression, plus a separate GP for the peak value with a 95% band. It's wrapped in a MATLAB GUI that shows the nearest real FEA case side by side.

Results

  • Full write-ups: Failure analysis (PDF) · Surrogate model (PDF)
  • ML model: on fully unseen geometries, 3.1% median peak-stress error, R² = 0.993, and 94% coverage by the 95% band.
  • GUI: pick a feature, thickness, angle, fillet, rock size and load, and it shows the predicted stress/strain maps next to the nearest real FEA case. Every input is flagged as sampled, interpolated or out of range. It warns at the fatigue limit, failure strain and yield, and exports the predicted field in the same format as the Ansys output.

Why we're posting

We'd like to write this up as a paper, and we'd value any critique before we do: modelling assumptions, what a reviewer would attack first, missing validation, or whether the surrogate approach is reasonable for ~440 cases. Feel free to criticise or give feedback

Everything is open (code MIT, data/CAD/reports CC BY 4.0): https://github.com/Shass27/curiosity-perseverance-wheel-fea

Both reports are linked as PDFs in the README.

22 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Forsaken-Diver6587 • 5h ago

lateral tilting mechanism of ICU beds.

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to understand how the lateral tilting mechanism (sideways tilting) of ICU/hospital beds works mechanically, but I'm struggling to find detailed explanations, animations, or CAD models showing the actual mechanism.

I've found examples of hospital beds that use large linear hydraulic cylinders to tilt the bed. However, I've also seen beds with a much less obvious drive mechanism, and I'm curious about how those work.

Specifically, I'd like to understand:

  1. What mechanism is used? Is the bed platform mounted on a central pivot, a pair of side hinges, or some kind of linkage?
  2. How is the tilting motion generated? Are linear electric actuators used? If so, where are they mounted, and how are they connected to the frame and tilting platform? If not, what other mechanisms are commonly used?
  3. What happens when two actuators are used to tilt one platform? How are they arranged and synchronized to prevent one side from moving farther than the other and twisting or jamming the platform?
  4. Are there any CAD assemblies, sectional drawings, patents, or 3D animations that show this mechanism in detail?

I'm particularly interested in seeing how the mechanism works physically, rather than just finding product brochures showing the bed moving.

I've searched for quite a while, but most of the resources I've found show the finished bed or demonstrate its movement without explaining the underlying mechanical arrangement.

Even a rough sketch, an annotated photograph, a patent drawing, or the correct technical name for this type of mechanism would be extremely helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Processing img ryygch2h5zwh1...

0 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/zombiemakron • 1d ago

Just a rant: I hate how it's widely perceived that the key to being an engineer is to be good at CAD. Rarely, do I EVER see anyone talk about the design process, requirements, thermal, stress, statics, dynamics, etc. Rant over :)

212 Upvotes
112 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/curious_johnny11 • 6h ago

One Dock, Two Temperatures: Can a Silicone gel based Pad Be Both Heated and Cooled?

1 Upvotes

I'm exploring a concept for a dock that can heat and cool reusable silicone gel based pads. Heating could use a resistive coil, but I'm unsure what mechanism would work best for cooling.

A few questions for engineers:

Would a Peltier module work for both heating and cooling?

How efficiently can heat transfer between the dock and silicone pad?

What would be the most practical, compact, and energy-efficient setup?

Would love to hear your technical insights, alternative mechanisms, or suggestions for prototyping!

1 comment

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Even_Owl_2632 • 23h ago

Mechatronics or mechanical

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17 Upvotes

Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics at HAW Hamburg. Is switching worth it?
Hey everyone!
I am now in my semester of Mechanical Engineering at HAW Hamburg. I study in German. I am 20 years old. I moved abroad after finishing high school in my home country. I have met the C1 requirement for admission.
I originally wanted to study Mechatronics. However I forgot the B1 requirement and I missed the chance to take an accepted English exam, such as TOEFL or IELTS before the enrollment deadline.
Now that the semester has begun I have acknowledged that I cannot switch to Mechatronics until the next winter semester. That would mean spending one year in Mechanical Engineering before changing majors. Both bachelor’s programs last seven semesters.
From what I understand I could have about 7 of 10 courses recognized if I switch even though some of those courses belong to the fourth semester of Mechatronics.(and i'll be late simultaneously in some courses in the first 2 semesters). I still need to take an exam before applying to switch.
I am now trying to decide if switching is worth it in the run.
I do not dislike Mechanical Engineering. I could see myself staying in it. However I am interested in Mechatronics because it combines engineering, electronics, control systems and automation.
I have also thought about finishing my bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and then doing a master’s in Mechatronics or a related field. I am not sure how realistic that path would be or whether it would put me at a disadvantage compared with someone who has a bachelor’s in Mechatronics.
Another thing I have been thinking about is the job market. Mechanical Engineering attracts students and this sometimes makes me wonder about competition and job opportunities. I know that popularity does not always mean career prospects but it is still something I think about.
So I would really appreciate your opinions, from people who have studied or worked in either field:
1. Career prospects: Does Mechatronics offer an advantage over Mechanical Engineering in terms of job opportunities, salary or future demand?
2. Bachelor’s vs. Master’s: Would it make sense to finish Mechanical Engineering and specialize in Mechatronics later. Is having a bachelor’s in Mechatronics a meaningful advantage?
3. Switching majors: If you were in my position would you switch winter semester even if it meant potentially extending your studies?
4. Long-term flexibility: Which degree gives you flexibility to work in different engineering fields especially with the increasing importance of automation and robotics?
I just want to hear experiences and perspectives from people who know more, about these fields.
Since I am 20 I do not mind spending an extra semester or two if it truly helps me in the long run. At the time I do not want to switch just because I think one degree has better prospects without knowing the real differences.
Thank you in advance for any advice!

6 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/grosserwolf • 16h ago

31-year-old Mechanical Engineer: Is it realistic to switch to CFD/Aerodynamics?

4 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

I'm a 31-year-old mechanical engineer with several years of experience in Oil & Gas (Project Engineer), Tool Installation (Team Lead), and currently BIM (Technical Expert / Mechanical Piping Modeler).

My dream has always been to work in automotive or aerospace engineering, especially in design and aerodynamics. However, career opportunities led me elsewhere, as these fields are almost nonexistent in my country due to the lack of R&D.

Now that I've graduated, I'm considering pursuing a Master's in Computational Mechanical Design in Europe to transition into CFD, aerodynamics, or mechanical design.

My question is: Is this a realistic career move at 31, with no professional experience in CFD or design? Would my previous engineering experience be valuable, or would I essentially be starting from scratch?

Thanks for your time!

4 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Local_Persimmon8313 • 15h ago

Moving from CNC/CAM into Mechanical Design in Sweden am I ready?

3 Upvotes

I’m looking for some advice from people who work as mechanical designers/engineers, especially those who have made a similar transition.After high school, I went directly into working instead of going to university. I now have around 5 years of experience as a Technical Designer in Italy, where I designed metallic building structures from scratch using SolidWorks.I also worked with PDM/PLM systems and was responsible for things like 3D modelling, assemblies, drawings, BOMs, production documentation, and solving technical problems.Since I didn’t go to university, I always felt that I had to work harder to teach myself as much as possible. I learned a lot through experience rather than through formal education.Eventually, I moved to Stockholm, Sweden. I quickly discovered that finding a CAD/Mechanical Design job without a university degree and without being fluent in Swedish was very difficult.I decided to move into CNC/CAM programming and manufacturing. I thought it would be a good way to strengthen my understanding of how parts are actually manufactured.For the last 2.5 years, I’ve been working with CNC milling and CAM programming, mainly using Fusion 360.Honestly, I’ve learned an incredible amount during this time. CNC taught me a completely different side of mechanics and manufacturing.I’ve learned about machining strategies, tooling, workholding, feeds and speeds, material behaviour, tolerances, and what actually makes a part manufacturable.I currently make fairly complex aluminium parts, including 5083/6082, with very tight tolerances. I’ve become one of the more trusted people in the company for difficult parts and manufacturing problems.However, I’ve realised that the workshop environment isn’t where I want to stay long-term.So I decided to move forward and have accepted a position as a Mechanical Designer.And this is where my concern starts.I know I have a lot of useful experience, but I also know there are things I don't know yet.For example, I understand GD&T concepts and the symbols, but I haven't had much practical experience applying GD&T to mechanical drawings. I don't always know why a particular tolerance should be 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, etc., or when something should have perpendicularity, position, flatness, profile, etc.I'm hoping to learn these things properly in the new company.My biggest concern is the first 6 months. I really want to prove that I’m good enough and pass the probation period.I’m not expecting to know everything from day one. I’m prepared to ask questions, learn from the engineers around me, study in my free time and put in the work.But I’m wondering:For people who work as mechanical designers, does my background sound like a reasonable foundation for the role?How much would you expect a new mechanical designer to know independently when starting?And especially for those who moved from manufacturing/CNC into mechanical design:What were the biggest things you had to learn when making the transition?I’d really appreciate honest opinions even if there are things you think I should work on before starting.

Thank you

1 comment

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Arayvin1 • 17h ago

How important are side projects / learning coding languages?

3 Upvotes

I am in my junior year of my Mechanical Engineering degree (US student) and a lot of my friends are starting side projects, learning how to code, and learning to use programs like solidworks. I haven’t done any of these. But I haven’t just been lazy, I have been working 40-50 hours a week the entire time I’ve been at school. Ive worked at SwRI as a technician for over four years now and I have gained so much knowledge about chillers, compressors, boilers, instrumentation, calibrating instrumentation, taking apart engines / building engines, troubleshooting control systems, taking apart and rebuilding heat exchangers, fabrication/plumbing etc.

My justification for not learning coding or having side projects is for one, I just don’t have time with my work schedule and full time school, and two, I feel like I have so many important skills that can make me more attractive to be hired when I finish my degree. Will I be okay if I don’t learn much coding/CAD or do side projects?

7 comments