Where a mechanical engineer can go next
12 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a mechanical engineer already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Mechanical engineers research, plan and design mechanical products and systems and supervise the fabrication, operation, application, installation and repair of systems and products. They research and analyse data.
Also known as mechanical technology engineering expert, mechanical technology engineering specialist, mechanical engineering expert, mechanical technology engineering adviser, mechanical technology engineering consultant, mechanical engineering consultant, mechanical engineering adviser, mechanics engineer, mechanical engineering specialist, mechanical technology engineer, machinery engineer.
Professionals 92 skills on file 12 career moves 1 above 60% overlap Closest: fluid power engineer, 66%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 1 · Within reach
- fluid power engineer 66% covered · difficulty 36.7
- robotics engineer 59% covered · difficulty 45.9
- aerodynamics engineer 57% covered · difficulty 46.9
- rotating equipment engineer 57% covered · difficulty 48.2
- container equipment design engineer 55% covered · difficulty 47.2
- mechanical engineering technician 55% covered · difficulty 45.6
- packing machinery engineer 54% covered · difficulty 48.8
- aerospace engineering drafter 52% covered · difficulty 51.4
- rolling stock engineering drafter 51% covered · difficulty 49
- mechanical engineering drafter 51% covered · difficulty 46.6
- aerospace engineer 50% covered · difficulty 53.7
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A mechanical engineer needs 40 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- solar absorption cooling system engineering, manufacturing and construction
- sustainable installation materials engineering, manufacturing and construction
- design heating and cooling emission systems communication, collaboration and creativity
- manage engine-room resources management skills
- perform a feasibility study on solar absorption cooling information skills
- design a solar absorption cooling system communication, collaboration and creativity
- perform feasibility study on solar heating information skills
- solid mechanics engineering, manufacturing and construction
- building automation engineering, manufacturing and construction
- design engineering components communication, collaboration and creativity
Look up another occupation
Mechanical engineer is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a mechanical engineer’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.