Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineers make things. If you want the impressive spiel to give your Aunt when she asks what you want to do after school a better description would be that they are concerned with the design, manufacture and operation of all kinds of components, products, machines and systems. The size of any specific project can range from a new coffee maker to an invisible robot that does all your work (you’d probably be canonised for that one). Mechanical engineers are necessary in the production of most inventions and developments: clearly an exciting process to be part of.

So if the inner workings of your toy car have been puzzling you since childhood then free yourself from your torment by undertaking a Mechanical Engineering course.

Education

There are many options for students interested in taking a course in Mechanical Engineering at third-level in Ireland. These include higher certificates and degrees at levels six, seven and eight. Other options include Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering courses. The CAO points required for these courses can range from 150 to over 400, depending on the level of the course and the institution you choose.

Mechanical engineering students gain a good grounding in Maths and Science in their first year, and specialise as the course continues. Typical subjects include Materials Science, Engineering Mechanics, Production Technology, Mathematics & Computing, Thermodynamics, Engineering Design, Signals, Systems & Control and Mechanics of Machines.

As the course progresses, students move from the analysis of established designs and theories to working on their own designs and ideas. Group work is common, and students spend lots of time in the laboratory testing and working on engines and machinery. Many courses include work experience/placements for a term or a year in Ireland, or in Europe as part of the Erasmus programme.

Options After Qualification

Mechanical engineering graduates should have a wide range of options once they finish their studies. Opportunities can arise in almost every industry, including the automotive, pharmaceutical, energy, environmental and food processing industries, as well as in aeronautics, biomedical engineering, information technology and all types of manufacturing.

Graduates of some courses can join the Institution of Engineers of Ireland (IEI) and then study towards Chartered Engineer status.

The Work

No industry is off-limits to mechanical engineers; you could choose to work in anything from computers to food processing; and everything in between.

The skills and knowledge accrued during a college course are used to design, build and install new products or machinery, or else they improve existing models or products. Whether you end up working on jet engines, prosthetic limbs or software programmes, the principles are basically the same.

The research and development route can involve lots of time spent in the laboratory, carrying out tests and feasibility studies; you will be using complex machinery and computers to work out which material is ideal, how the device should work, which components are required, and so on.

When a product is ready to be built, a prototype is designed (this could be a miniature model, life-size replica or computer simulation) and subjected to rigorous testing both in the laboratory or factory and in the real world.

Mechanical engineering is always developing and making use of new technology and theories. You will probably use a computer mouse much more than a hammer if you pursue a career in this area. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software, along with computer modelling, are often used to develop ideas, research findings and draw up technical plans and specifications.

Mechanical engineers can also be involved in the production process and oversee the building of the finished product, machine or technology. These can range from one-off projects such as power stations, to mass-produced products such as microchips.

Experienced mechanical engineers can set up their own practices and become consultants, advising companies and organisations on projects and inventions.

Personal Qualities & Work Environment

Maths and science should be your favourite subjects; a strong interest in them both is crucial. A more than basic curiosity about how things work, and the creativity to find new solutions to old problems are useful qualities for success in the profession.

Mechanical engineers can divide their time between the laboratory, computer desk and factory. It is typically a nine-to-five kind of job, with good opportunities for travel and working abroad. One thing to note – the majority of mechanical engineers at the moment are male and this is an issue that both the government and the colleges are trying to change. Female applicants should bear in mind the Science Foundation Ireland/Dell Scholarship-Young Women in Engineering; this is aimed at encouraging more young women into a designated four-year engineering programme. It involves an annual award of €2,000; see www.sfi.ie for more details on this.

The Money

Mechanical engineers start out on a salary of around €30,000. With experience, this can rise to over €50,000.

The Jargon

Materials: Physical substances used in production or manufacturing (can be either raw or finished)

Thermodynamics: The study of the movement and changes in energy within physical systems

Mechatronics: A combination of mechanical, electrical and software engineering to produce, among other things, robots

Job Titles

Mechanical Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer
Mechatronic Engineer
Materials Engineer
Robotic Engineer

Further Resources

Engineers Ireland
22 Clyde Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Phone: 01 668 4341
Web: www.iei.ie
Email: info@engineersireland.ie

Design News
Web: www.designnews.com

Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
Parsons Building
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin
Phone: 01 896 1383
Web: www.mecheng.tcd.ie

Steps to Engineering
Engineers Ireland
22 Clyde Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Phone: 01 614 0010
Web: www.steps.ie
Email: info@steps.ie

UCD School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering
UCD Engineering and Materials Science Centre
Belfield
Dublin 4
Phone: 01 716 1884
Web: www.ucd.ie/mecheng
Email: mecheng@ucd.ie