Mechanical Engineering Technician

Mechanical engineering technicians are responsible for the efficient working of many kinds of equipment and machinery. This may involve helping to design, manufacture, test, install, adjust and maintain the equipment.

The Work

You could be:

• working on new designs using computer-aided design (CAD) software


• constructing test equipment and working models


• installing, testing, setting and adjusting equipment which controls production in manufacturing industry - perhaps including robotic machinery


• organising and putting into practice, repair and maintenance programmes for equipment and machinery


• diagnosing and repairing faults in equipment of various types - perhaps including the mechanical parts of lifts and escalators or railway locomotives


• overseeing the manufacturing process and making sure that items - small components or large parts for power stations - have been made to the right standard


• looking for ways to improve manufacturing operations


• estimating, purchasing or inspecting.

Conditions

• You might work in a laboratory, office, factory or workshop. The conditions will depend on the industry, but in some cases they may be dirty and noisy.


• In factories and workshops you would normally wear overalls and perhaps also safety glasses, protective headgear and footwear.


• You may have to work shifts, do overtime and be on call outside normal working hours.

Getting In

• You would usually enter through a Modern Apprenticeship, for which you would normally need 4 Standard grades.


• Or you could first take a qualification in mechanical engineering or a similar subject. Relevant courses include a National Certificate (NC), National Qualification (NQ), Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND). For entry to an NC or NQ course you need Standard grades. For an HNC or HND course you need 1-3 Highers.


• You should normally have English, Maths and at least one science or technological subject at Standard grade or Higher.


• You may be able to qualify by other training routes.


• If you have allergies you may be at risk from certain substances that can irritate skin.

What Does It Take?

You need to have:

• scientific, technical and practical skills
• an accurate, methodical and systematic approach


• good maths and IT skills


• good communication skills


• a strong sense of responsibility
• an awareness aware of health and safety issues.

• understand technical drawings
• pay attention to detail


• solve problems


• plan your work to meet agreed timetables
• work alone as well as part of a team


• work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Training

• A Modern Apprenticeship combines on the job and off the job training and leads to a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) at Level 3.


• There are SVQs in Performing Engineering Operations, Engineering Maintenance and Installation, Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Services. Which you take depends on the work you do.


• If you do a college course first, you would then take a job with an employer and continue with further training to gain SVQs.


• After your apprenticeship or college course and further training with your employer, you can work towards registering as an Engineering Technician (EngTech) with the Engineering Council.


• If you do not follow either of the above training routes, you may still be able to achieve EngTech by another approved route. You can check these alternative routes with the Engineering Council or with the relevant professional engineering institution.


• You must be willing to keep up to date with new advances in technology.

Getting On

• With experience, you may be promoted to supervisor level.
• You might move into management later.


• You might move into related areas such as marketing and sales or after sales service.


• Technicians usually work under the general supervision of professional mechanical engineers. With further study and training, technicians can progress to become mechanical engineers at the higher levels of Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work


• the size of the company or organisation you work for


• the demand for the job.

More Information

• The Engineering Council sets and maintains the standards of the engineering profession in the UK. It does so through 36 professional engineering institutions which are Licensed Members of the Engineering Council.


• The Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance (SEMTA) is the Sector Skills Council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies.


• The Tomorrow’s Engineers website has more information on careers in engineering.

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.