Career in Mechanical Engineering: Scope, Courses, Jobs, and Salary

Mechanical engineering is an evergreen field since it is the only branch of engineering which is immune to the impact of economic recession. Presently, with the broadening of scope and technological advancement, the prospects of mechanical engineering are extending beyond geographical peripheries.

Mechanical engineering is the discipline which applies engineering, physics, materials science principles and engineering mathematics to design, analyse, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems. This field of engineering is the oldest and broadest of all engineering fields and the job prospects for skilled mechanical engineers are copious and limitless in India and abroad. 

Training and education Requirements for Professionals Pursuing Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering encompasses a broad field of inter-disciplinary studies including major aspects of power generation, transportation, aerospace technology, and construction. Pursuing a career in mechanical engineering offers many benefits comprising excellent employment prospects, the opportunity for advancement, job security, higher pay, and challenging tasks and work environments.

Criteria for Becoming a Mechanical Engineer

With the growth in automation, mechanical engineering has become one of the most sought-after branches of engineering. There is lots of scope for mechanical engineers in India due to the rapid industrialisation of the nation. A career in mechanical engineering necessitates at least a bachelor's degree (B.Tech/BE), or a postgraduate degree (ME), or a diploma in mechanical engineering.

Eligibility Requirement for Pursuing Mechanical Engineering Course

The basic eligibility requirement to pursue a mechanical engineering program at different levels are:

Diploma

A minimum aggregate score of 55 per cent in Xth standard, or Xth pass with ITI certificate, or Xth pass with Certificate in Motorcycle Services and Repair (CMSR) from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Qualifying XIIth standard with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as main subjects with a minimum aggregate score of 50 per cent.

Undergraduate Course

BE/B.Tech in mechanical engineering is a four-year programme. Candidates who have completed Xth and XIIth or an equivalent examination with 55 per cent of marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from a recognised board are eligible for this course. Also, candidates who have completed three years diploma in any stream from a recognised board are eligible for this course.

Postgraduate Course

M.E./M.Tech is a two-year programme. Candidates should hold a BE/B.Tech/AMIE or equivalent degree in the appropriate disciplines/branches (Mechanical/Production/Mechatronics/Automobile/Manufacturing) with an aggregate of 55 per cent marks and above.

Doctoral Program

Doctoral program in mechanical engineering train students to utilise and advance their engineering skills to contribute to applied industry-focused manufacturing and mechanical research projects. The minimum duration for a PhD program is three years, including course work and the maximum is around six years. Candidates must have a minimum of 75 per cent marks in B.E./B.Tech and/or 65 per cent marks in M.E./M.Tech. Admissions are done based on ICMR, GPAT, CSIR NET, ICAR AIEEA, and UGC NET fellowship.

Certain colleges may need applicants to qualify different entrance examinations that are held at national-level and state-level for admissions to bachelor’s and master’s programmes. The shortlisted candidates would be notified to attend a personal interview and counseling session. Based on the scores obtained in the entrance examination, personal interview and counselling session, the admission of the applicant would be further processed. Some of the popular entrance exams are JEE Main, VITEEE, WBJEE JECA, GATE, BITSAT, JEE Advanced, COMEDK UGET, MHT CET, among others.

Required Skillset for Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineers design, build and test mechanical devices such as engines, machines, and tools. A mechanical engineer should have specific hard and soft skills, together with a strong understanding of industry standards and exceptional computer skills, since much time is spent in designing, simulating, and testing. Therefore, the key skills necessary for pursuing a mechanical engineering program are

Cost of Studying Mechanical Engineering Course

Top Colleges to Pursue Mechanical Engineering Course

Many of the engineering colleges in India offer B.Tech/BE course in mechanical engineering. However, to get the best education and training, it is essential to pursue mechanical engineering course from one of the top engineering colleges in India. Some of the factors that should be considered are courses offered, accreditation, reputation, campus facilities (libraries, computer access, lab, and so on.), cost, faculties, class size, government/private and placement. The popular and top-ranked colleges for mechanical engineering in India are:

Job Role, Growth Prospects, and Salary

Career opportunities in mechanical engineering have been immense since its inception. After the successful completion of the course, students have opportunities to undertake employment in the private and public sectors. With additional qualifications, they can hold senior positions in managerial and administrative fields

(Source: Shiksha.com; payscale.com)

Future Growth Prospects and How to Get There Faster

The future and scope of mechanical engineers in India and abroad are very bright. Students who complete mechanical engineering have a plethora of opportunities in the areas of aerospace, automobile, chemical manufacturing plants, railway coach factory, oil exploration, research and development, among others. In recent times and owing to the advent in technology, the skills and expertise of a mechanical engineer are required in domains such as robotics, biomedical, nanotechnology, AI, energy conservation and more. The growth in this industry within the next few years will be immense, and mechanical engineering will be the highest-paid career option.

Pros and Cons of Mechanical Engineering Career

Mechanical engineers are visible almost in all sections of the globe today since their experience and qualification are suitable for almost any kinds of businesses. However, mechanical engineering career has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

• It is an evergreen branch and always in demand.
• Wide-range of disciplines/subjects
• Excellent pay potential and exciting workplaces
• Global opportunities
• The forefront of future technologies

Cons

• Competitive atmosphere
• Extreme work pressure and challenging workload and timings
• Educational requirements

Other Job Avenues for Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical engineering field has a huge scope when it comes to career options for those who have graduated from this field and looking for other options in this field

Mining Engineer: Safe and effectual development of mines and other underground and surface operations.

Patent Attorney: Lead companies or individual inventors through the necessary process to obtain a patent

Robotics Engineer: Designing robotic systems and research methods to manufacture them economically.

Biomedical Engineer: Use engineering methods to devise new medical devices, related technologies/software for use in the healthcare industry.