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

Quarterly /r/MechanicalEngineering Career/Salary Megathread

8 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.

3 comments

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

2026 US Mechanical Engineer Survey Results

552 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/LMP_6500 • 3h ago

Received a Promotion and Raise - Should I Expect More?

9 Upvotes

I now have 4 YOE and just got a raise and title change. My raise was 6% (3% COL increase + 3% for promotion), and I was definitely a little disappointed. I have received a 3% COL increase each year, and I received a 3% off-cycle raise about 2 years in. Do I have good reason to be disappointed with this, or is this pretty normal?

8 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Beneficial-Code-9288 • 2h ago

Am I pigeonholing myself by settling for a technician job for a while?

4 Upvotes

Hey Y'all, I graduated this May with my B.S. in MechE. I've been on the job search these last 6 months or so with no bites. Unfortunately, during my time at school I had to work full time throughout. This led to me missing the majority of networking and career fairs so I did not land an interview during my time in school. However, I just got an offer to be a technician with a company that specializes in custom outfitting for emergency rescue vehicles. I would be doing the final assembly, testing and communicating with the engineers to assure the quality before they are shipped out. I would still be searching for an engineering role while working there. Just figured it'd look better on the resume than my current retail work experience.

To add, I am hoping to eventually work as a test engineer, hardware design engineer, or quality engineer. I'm searching mainly in the automotive and transportation industry.

Thanks for any input!

3 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/HumbleExamination598 • 2h ago

M.S. in MechE from B.S. in Chemistry?

3 Upvotes

Hey all! Quick question for the the MechE community: How employable would someone be with a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S. in Chemistry in today’s job market? And from a career perspective, how would you compare that outcome to a career as a medical doctor?

For context, I recently graduated with a bachelor’s in chemistry and a minor in physics on a pre-med track, but I developed a strong interest in mechanical engineering near the end of my degree. I’ve always liked applied physics, so MechE topics like fluid/gas dynamics, acoustics, heat transfer, stress/strain, and FEA simulations really resonated with me.

However, I’ve heard a lot of negative things about the current engineering job market. I also obviously don’t have an engineering bachelor’s degree, and my real-world engineering experience is fairly limited. I did biophysics research in a MechE lab in undergrad, taught myself some CAD and FEA, and assisted with a small engineering startup project, but that’s about it. On the other hand, I’m fully set up to apply to medical school, which offers a much higher end-game income at the cost of many more years of training. I’m interested in more engineering-adjacent medical fields like ophthalmology and aerospace medicine, so I’ve thought about pursuing those career-wise while satisfying my engineering interests through side-projects and research, but I keep coming back to thinking about career paths in fields like ME, AeroE, BME, ChemE, etc.

So, for those who are currently building a career in mechanical engineering or related fields: What are your thoughts? Would a M.S. MechE + B.S. Chemistry be a terrible idea? Am I crazy for even considering it?

6 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/tindmrap • 9h ago

Could a mechanical spring boost system actually work in practice on a bike for example? Could a bike equipped with it be genuinely faster in stop-and-go city riding, where the rider constantly brakes, stops, and accelerates again?

Post image
12 Upvotes

Each wheel houses large carbon-fiber cantilever beam springs mounted parallel to the wheel plane, each connected by a cable to a fixed variable-diameter oval profile at the hub; during braking, the wheel's rotation drives a planetary gear reducer that tensions all four springs simultaneously while a ratcheting mechanism locks them in place, storing energy mechanically; when the rider triggers the boost, the ratchet releases and the cables pull through the oval profile, starting at its smallest diameter to deliver maximum torque for launch and transitioning to larger diameters as spring force declines, transmitting energy directly to the wheel axle as an instant, purely mechanical torque pulse.

I don't know the ideal design of the springs nor the whole mechanism but I did a simple (and rough) sketch of a spring that seems better than a basic cantilever beam spring for this application

35 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/SaucyBossy1919 • 11h ago

73 mechanical engineering internships open right now (plus 270 more engineering internships), free list

18 Upvotes

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

https://github.com/mehek-builds/Hiring-Now/blob/main/lists/engineering-internships.md

- 73 mechanical engineering internships, plus 270 more across manufacturing, electrical and civil

- 343 internships total at 168 US companies (Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, GM, Allison Transmission, Micron, NVIDIA, Johnson & Johnson, Sierra Space)

- 88 posted in the last week

- 101 at employers with a visa sponsorship record

posting date on every row, rebuilt every monday.

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

0 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/TechincalTomato • 19h ago

Recently I noticed a crack in my vise. If placed it under a high enough power microscope would i be able to watch the crack grow?

Post image
64 Upvotes
17 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Fair-Mode-4133 • 4h ago

Space X Interview

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I'm graduating in May 2027, and I have my second interview with SpaceX coming up. It's a technical interview, so I'm assuming I'll be speaking with some of the engineers.

I previously interned at Blue Origin, and during my initial phone screen, the recruiter asked me a LOT of questions about my experience there (even though I have more internships), especially my projects. I'm not gonna lie, it made me a little nervous about what to expect during the technical interview.

For anyone who's interviewed with SpaceX, what kind of questions should I expect about my previous projects? How technical do they usually get, and what's the best way to prepare? I know they use engineering foundational, any topics I should review?

I'd really appreciate any advice or insight!

1 comment

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/_Mad_Engineer_ • 9h ago

Sanity check on custom wheel thruster hub design for a transforming drone project

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I'm working on a transforming drone project and could really use a sanity check on a mechanical design since my background isn't in ME. I'm trying to figure out the best way to physically implement a specific wheel thruster assembly.

The basic idea is that the outer wheel needs to be driven by a timing belt and pulley setup, but right in the center of this wheel, there needs to be a BLDC flight motor that stays completely stationary while the outer wheel spins around it. On top of that, the three heavy phase wires for that inner BLDC motor need to pass directly through the center of the wheel assembly and route back into the main chassis without twisting or getting tangled when the robot drives on the ground.

I understand the rough concept of keeping the core fixed while the rim spins, but I'm struggling to picture the exact mechanical stack of bearings, dead axles, and mounting brackets to actually build it. How would you guys go about implementing this in CAD? Any advice on how to structure the hub, what specific types of bearings to use keeping in mind the weight, or how to route the wires through the center would be hugely appreciated!

Pictures are from ATMO research paper.

0 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/SaltyAppointment • 2h ago

What's our opinion on working at Blue Origin?

0 Upvotes

I see people talking about other major aerospace companies. I think Blue Origin is in the same category as SpaceX. Anyone who's worked there knows anything about their culture, stress level, and job security?

2 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Commercial-Finding28 • 2h ago

Camera Mount Help

1 Upvotes

Hello! I took on a task of making a camera mount that should be able to rotate at least 45 degrees vertically back and forth, but I was told that I should do it without using a servo. This can be accomplished with some type of gear system, obviously, but my only question is how would I get it to reset to the original angle without a motor. Is that even possible or am I just being dumb? For context, the camera will be mounted to a robot that we will not be able to physically touch while completing its tasks.

2 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/KindlyBat6715 • 1d ago

As a mechanical engineer, what is your job and what do you do?

76 Upvotes

I am a senior in High School and I am not sure if I want to major in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. I want to know what mechanical engineers do during their daily jobs.

109 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Hanr21 • 4h ago

Best course or certs to take to become more proficient at designing product for injection molding or manufacturing in general?

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! For context, I’m a BME through and through, but I’ve recently found myself in a ME role where I am doing a whole lot of rapid prototyping and design work. We have a larger project that will need to be injection or urethane molded and I’ve been stumbling through the manufacturability of it. I’d love to know any recommendations for courses or certifications for this application or just design for manufacturing in general. My goal is just to get faster and more confident in my designs (and less revisions ofc)
Thanks!!

1 comment

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Dangerous-Corner-787 • 23h ago

Stick with SolidWorks or go to Catia?

30 Upvotes

We are considering switching from Solidworks to Catia because the former is so weak handling large assemblies (20,000 components). But, we're on 2024. I've heard rumors 2026 and beyond have fixed this shortcoming. Opinions, please?

42 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/AlexOair • 6h ago

What should i do?

0 Upvotes

Hi, im trying to make a go cart-esk thing. A better word would be mini car. But i digress, i want to base it of the ramp cars from ff6 so yeah would would you all say would be the best way to go about making it?

5 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/manktank • 7h ago

What electric actuator/mechanism would you use to simulate recoil with a ~5 kg payload on a linear rail?

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1 Upvotes
0 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/PossiblyADHD • 7h ago

35, ME, stuck in contract-to-hire limbo. How do I break out of starting over?

2 Upvotes

Since then the goalposts have moved three times. The latest is a new policy capping contract extensions at one year. My manager recommended me for conversion, but that wasn't enough, and now I need to win over a director.
Before the layoff, I worked for a DoD subcontractor on mission systems. I loved that work, but getting back into a similar role has been tough.
Money has been tight ever since. Relocating isn't really on the table. My wife and I have a kid with another on the way, my aging parents live with us, and our whole support system is here. For personal reasons, I'm also not comfortable moving my family somewhere unfamiliar.
I'm getting interviews, but I don't go in with much confidence. It's frustrating to be 35 and still feel like I haven't figured this out. I've started over more times than I'd like.
If you've been in a similar spot, how did you get out of the contract cycle and into something stable? And how did you get your interview confidence back?

9 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Accurate_Produce_937 • 7h ago

«Потому что могу и хочу». Как мы учили детей создавать будущее, а теперь, похоже, будем прощаться

0 Upvotes

Я работаю в сфере образования уже более 10 лет, и основная часть этого времени — педагогом дополнительного образования. Преподаю технические дисциплины, а именно: 3D-моделирование (Компас-3D) и 3D-печать, реверс-инжиниринг (3D-сканирование), ЧПУ-технологии (лазерный СО₂ и трёхосевой фрезерный станок). Ну и куда ж без модного сегодня направления БПЛА! Но мы рассматриваем его со стороны проектирования, сборки, обслуживания, ну и полёты, само собой. Не забываем про микроэлектронику и программирование микроконтроллеров (не сильно силён в этом направлении, но благо нейросети помогают преодолеть этот рубеж). И в целом занимаемся с учениками проектной деятельностью. Кстати, даже одно время занимались мехатроникой (направление интересное, но очень дорогое).

Если подумаете, что как-то много направлений для одного преподавателя, то на самом деле эти дисциплины смежные. Если поглубже разобраться в одном, то в другом не составит особого труда.

А вишенка на торте — всё это бесплатно!

В общем, ученики собрали себе 3D-принтеры, полотер, умные устройства, носимые устройства — короче, всё, на что хватает фантазии. И на вопрос со стороны: «А зачем?» — они отвечали: «Потому что могу и хочу».

Работал я эти годы с большим удовольствием! Во-первых, потому что во всех учреждениях, в которых я работал, были директора, заинтересованные в развитии технических направлений. А во-вторых, я с душой отдавался своему делу. Прийти пораньше и уйти попозже для меня не составляло труда (жена первое время смотрела на меня косо, но потом свыклась. Лучшая!).

Я знакомил детей с техническими дисциплинами, и условие было одно: пока я нахожусь на работе, можно приходить и заниматься. Я прекрасно понимаю, насколько сегодня загружены дети: репетиторы, онлайн-школы, спорт, домашние дела и т.д. Ну и на себя любимого тоже время надо выделять!

А некоторые из них, в свою очередь, погружались в те или иные направления даже глубже меня, тем самым превосходя мои знания. Это невероятное чувство, когда твой ученик на твоих глазах превосходит тебя! И вот уже ты сам спрашиваешь у него совета, обращаешься за помощью или просишь помочь другому ученику разобраться с возникшей задачкой. А меня самого это, конечно, подстёгивало расширять свои знания. Даже были ученики которые ходили на занятия ради «вайба» и общения.

В конкурсах, естественно, участвовали, много побеждали на различных уровнях. В учениках я даже не сомневался, потому что они свои проекты делали сами, своими руками и головой. Я был лишь наставником, куратором, критиком, ну и иногда приходилось быть скептиком.

Чуть не забыл! Оборудование всё покупалось и пополнялось на деньги грантов, на которые мы с моим руководителем писали заявки и благополучно выигрывали. Так что оборудования завались! Расходники и всякую мелочёвку, к сожалению, покупали самостоятельно, потому что заложить деньги на расходные материалы в бюджет — это прямо огромная проблема (AliExpress — лучший друг).

Ученики, которые выпустились из школы, до сих пор иногда забегают в гости чай попить. Это просто невероятные эмоции — видеть их, слышать рассказы об их успехах, возмущениях, и том, что они скучают по кабинету. И это при том, что некоторые учатся на гуманитарных специальностях. Со временем, конечно, перестают заходить. Обид естественно никаких нету, жизнь такая штука.

В общем, работал я с распахнутой душой, не жалея сил, и счастливый бежал на работу (как бессмертный пони).

Но наступил 2026 год.

Откуда-то очень сверху сказали, что надо бы сократить бюджеты, а именно — убрать дополнительное образование из школ. Потому что есть же различные центры дополнительного образования, вот пусть они и занимаются этим.

Хотя на самом деле таких учреждений довольно-таки мало, а где-то их вовсе нет. Ну и с зарплатами там не густо. Да и оборудование для технических дисциплин, если оно есть, такое, что плакать хочется. Потому что им напихали по всяким приказам, указам и программам свыше всякое г… , которое даже на Авито никому не нужно. Но зато, зато красиво всё представили и рассказали везде!

Да ещё и работоспособность этого оборудования под вопросом. Танцы с бубном даже не всегда помогают.

Но зато на платной основе в школах можете хоть с десяток направлений вести. Но, насколько я знаю, в центрах дополнительного образования тоже бюджеты порезали, а количество бюджетных мест ограничено. Ну и, конечно, на платной основе кружки можно вводить в каком угодно количестве, не стесняясь.

А уж о количестве педагогов с достаточным уровнем знаний и умений для преподавания подобных технических направлений даже говорить не хочется. Как правило, внутри регионов все друг с другом знакомы. И каждый раз, когда мы видимся на мероприятиях, нас становится всё меньше.

В целом вопросов много.

Где денег-то взять родителям столько? А как детям развиваться и познавать новое? А как же слова про раннюю профориентацию? Слова про доступность технологических кружков и секций? И так далее.

Кто бы ответил на все эти вопросы? Да и хотим ли мы услышать этот изворотливый и неоднозначный ответ, который породит ещё больше вопросов, но в итоге так и не решит проблему? Думаю, что нет. Легче и лучше от этого не станет, и мы, к сожалению, это знаем.

Не знаю, как закончить, потому что много есть чего сказать, но надо вовремя остановиться.

Пошёл поищу вакансии на всякий случай. Пока что директор пытается отстоять дополнительное образование, но думаю, что это вопрос времени.

И да, я не один такой педагог дополнительного образования. Нас таких мало, но мы есть. С теплотой вспоминаю специалистов, которые, к сожалению, покинули сферу образования. И мы рады были делать то, что делали, но, видимо, настало время прощаться с ребятами.

**P.S.** Нейронка помогла с орфографией и пунктуацией, да, плох я в этом 😅 А это просто оставлю здесь:**

- Распоряжение Правительства Российской Федерации от 01.07.2025 № 1745-р

- Указ Президента РФ от 7 мая 2024 г. № 309

- Постановление Правительства РФ от 26.12.2017 № 1642

0 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Cute-Argument-5110 • 15h ago

Best reference sources for material selection and heat/surface treatments?

4 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm a mechanical engineer looking for the best practical sources (books, websites, databases, or software tools) to help select materials and their corresponding heat/surface treatments based on specific working environments and application requirements.

What are your go-to references for everyday engineering work? Thanks!

2 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Standard_Falcon_3440 • 8h ago

How is production planning as a career how to get into ?

0 Upvotes

I have completed a design internship at an automotive supplier, but I didn’t enjoy it much. I’m more interested in strategy, planning, and management. I have always like my manufacturing subject and want to explore a career in production engineering. What skills should I learn to pursue this path? My current skill set includes CATIA V5, AutoCAD, engineering drawing, GD&T, and manufacturing processes.

2 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Individual-Web-63 • 5h ago

Stuck into btech mechanical engineering

0 Upvotes

Guys i never want to be an engineer and want to do a normal job. I don't like a regular routine. And mechanical was never my interest. I want to be a theoretical physicist. But for that I have to study a lot. I really like to study and personally not have any issues with it. But I need job as soon as possible. So unfortunately I choosed engineering. And mechanical. Cause it seems me better than others. I was thinking will easily compete btech and get a job. But it's very hard to survive. My 1st is completed and i am completely tired up. I can't do it now. I wanna leave it, but can't do it either. And not seeing any chances of job either. Don't have any good hope for future.

2 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/kaleo1010 • 9h ago

Mount seat &table on rear cargo area of the tricycle

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0 Upvotes

Want to higher a design to put a seat and adjust tilt table on the rear cargo area of the tricycle.

Need design to commission fabrication of mount for set and table

0 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/AveryNeedsRaymond • 9h ago

What do engineers do...?

0 Upvotes

Hello! I'm a sophomore in college getting my bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, with a minor in computer science, and I have no idea what jobs will look like, application-wise.

I want to be a design engineer in the entertainment/theme park world, working on small mechanisms or mechanical programming, or such. The issue is that I don't know how and what I'll need to apply from my coursework to my career. I want to prepare for the workforce and know if I'm pursuing something that matches up with my expectations.

If anyone also has any advice on what I should be studying/working on outside of my coursework, that would be so awesome and cool. I can also repost this elsewhere if this isn't relevant to this subreddit.

Thank you!

7 comments

r/MechanicalEngineering • u/No_Appeal6528 • 17h ago

Mechanical Engineering Jobs in Environmentalism or Humanitarianism?

3 Upvotes

I’m currently a sophomore studying mechanical engineering at my university and I was wondering if there are a good amount of jobs for mechanical engineers in the environmentalism and/or humanitarianism job sectors. After lots of thinking I decided I want a job that I feel makes a difference in the world, whether that be related to society, animals, or the environment. I feel like it might be better for me to switch to biological engineering with an environmental concentration, since in my mind it would be easier to find a job that is fulfilling to me with that degree. I would pretty much need to switch to it next semester or I would have to take an extra year of school. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

8 comments