Mechanical Engineers

Employers

Approximately 291,900 mechanical engineers are employed in the United States. They work for private engineering and aerospace companies and government entities such as NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. Mechanical engineers also work in a variety of other settings, including manufacturers of industrial and office machinery, farm equipment, automobiles, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, fabricated metal products, pulp and paper, electronics, utilities, computers, soap and cosmetics, and heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems. Others are self-employed or work for colleges and universities.

Starting Out

Many mechanical engineers find their first job through their college or university career services office. Many companies send recruiters to college campuses to interview and sign up engineering graduates. Other students might find a position in the company where they had an internship or a summer or part-time job. Newspapers and professional journals often list job openings for engineers. Additionally, professional associations, such as ASME, offer job listings at their Web sites.