Those who have just become, or are thinking about becoming engineers, and are considering their options in entry level mechanical engineering jobs will find they have a wide and varied selection of opportunities before them. The range of applications to which a mechanical engineer can apply their expertise are wide and varied and involve many different fields of discipline.
Entry level Mechanical Engineering Jobs or Electromechanical Engineering Jobs often involve the design and development of tools and machinery for the manufacturing and the control and automation of the manufacturing process. Many such positions also involve the generation and distribution of energy in the form of electricity, water or other types of power.
Specialized tools are required for all types of machinery, engines, equipment and turbines and typical entry level mechanical engineering jobs will require research, design, testing and manufacturing of these tools. Often an engineer will be called upon to analyze and improve on existing tools and machinery.
And, of course, the machines themselves have to be conceptualized, designed, manufactured, tested and put into production and operation. Many entry level jobs can also be found in the field of power generation and distribution, involving designing the distribution systems themselves, as well as analyzing, improving and maintaining the mechanical systems involved.
Industries typically offering entry level mechanical engineering jobs include: the automobile industry; manufacturing of all types from household goods, to heavy construction equipment, to electronics; aerospace; transportation; the defense industry; power and energy; refrigeration and heating; biomedical; health and safety; marine; mining and mine safety; nuclear; petroleum; and the food production and agricultural industries, just to name some.
The field of robotics offers many opportunities as manufacturing processes become increasingly automated. Environmental concerns and the recent boom in green technology is a new and exciting field with many entry level jobs.
The emerging field of nanotechnology, involving the use of machinery and tools on the microscopic level, and laser technologies, coupled with the use of evermore sophisticated CAD (computer assisted design) software, offer new and exciting frontiers for entry level mechanical engineering jobs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for engineers in general, and for mechanical engineers in particular, is exceptionally good. The projected growth in employment is as good, or better than, other occupations. The growth in the job market is predicted to be about 11% over the next decade, making the field of mechanical engineering a promising one for new graduates and students just entering a degree program.
In 2008, mechanical engineers ranked just behind civil engineers in number of employed individuals in the engineering discipline. Part of the reason is the dearth of students graduating from universities with degrees in engineering or the hard sciences. A bachelors degree is required for most entry level mechanical engineering positions. Many continue on for more advanced degrees and a commitment to lifelong, continuing education is a must.