Mechanical Engineer Career What to Expect & Is It Worth Studying?

Hey guys, in this article we'll discuss what a mechanical engineer does, the different specializations within this field, and which paths might not be worth pursuing.

I’m Alex, a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with over 17 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. I am also a certified career coach for engineers. So, my insights into this profession come from my field experience.

Mechanical Engineering as a Broad Industry

First of all, mechanical engineering is a universe, like IT or finance. Mechanical engineers are needed in almost every industry, including automotive, oil and gas, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and many others.

Some people say you can easily switch industries within mechanical engineering. I disagree to some extent. For example, if you've spent 10 years as an automotive mechanical engineer, it's unlikely you'll seamlessly transition into the nuclear or oil and gas industries due to the specialized equipment and technologies involved.

Stages of Mechanical Engineering Work

We'll discuss which industries I recommend for your future, but first, let's break down the stages of a mechanical engineer's work in any project.

Main Areas of Mechanical Engineering Work

Design Engineering

It all starts with the design phase, which includes conceptual design, feasibility studies, etc. This falls under the broad category of Engineering Design. Almost every structure or piece of equipment has mechanical components, and mechanical engineer is involved. So, the first area where you might find your call is as a design mechanical engineer.

In the automotive industry, mechanical engineers design engines, car bodies, seats, and many other components. In the oil and gas industry, they design pumps, compressors, turbines, tanks, pipelines, heat exchangers, etc.

In short, design engineering involves using various software tools like AutoCAD, HYSIS, ANSYS, and many others and having a good knowledge of various standards. This is usually an office job with a standard 5/2 work schedule.

Construction Engineering

Next, after making the project, it needs to be implemented. This is where construction mechanical engineers come in. Depending on the project's scale, there may be other specialization among engineers responsible for pipelines, vessels, and rotating equipment like pumps, turbines, fans etc.

Very often, this work has rotational schedule, as the goal is always to complete the project as soon as possible.

Projects can be in remote locations, making them hard to reach, so camps are set up for all the workers. On large projects, thousands or even tens of thousands of people might live there for several years until the project is completed.

Additionally, there's the role of the quality control mechanical engineer, called QA/QC Mechanical Engineer, who ensures construction follows the design.

Commissioning Engineering

Once the construction is complete, the project moves to the commissioning phase. Here, mechanical engineers prepare the equipment for operation.

Depending on the project's size, there may be different specializations: one mechanical engineer might start the turbines, another pumps, a third the ventilation system, and a fourth the pipelines.

This phase often reveals discrepancies and issues between the design and reality, leading to quick adjustments and fixes until everything works as designed.

Operation, Maintenance & Repair

After everything is built and operational, it needs to be run and maintained. This is where operation, maintenance, and repair mechanical engineers come in.

There are again many specializations depending on the types of equipment involved, such as pumps, pipes, ventilation, vessels, valves etc.

These engineers create maintenance plans, procure spare parts, conduct repairs, and troubleshoot various issues that arise during operation. This work can involve both rotational schedule and standard 5/2.

I have a separate video on my YouTube Channel about Mechanical Engineer key certifications:

Which Area I Recommend and Why

Why Design Is the Best Option

So, we have four main areas of work for mechanical engineers: design, construction, commissioning, and operation/maintenance/repair in one.

Most of my career I has been in equipment maintenance, but recently, I've focused more on project work and occasionally on commissioning. So, I have experience in all four areas.

Now, I'll share which area I recommend: definitely, this is design and engineering, and here's why not the other three.

Construction and commissioning are the hardest. If you work in these areas, leave a comment if you agree.

Why Construction Is the Worst

First, construction has the highest rate of accidents and injuries. Why work in a field with so many risks, hazards, and a high chance of getting hurt or even killed?

Second, it is often rotational work, meaning you might have to live on-site under less-than-ideal conditions.

Third, construction comes with so many problems like project discrepancies, design mistakes, lack of materials, tools, equipment, and skilled labor. And you must solve these issues on-site.

Why Commissioning Is Also Tough

Commissioning isn't much better, as the responsibility for starting up equipment falls on you, and you don't want to break anything, especially when dealing with multi-million-dollar equipment.

This job requires constant site presence, irregular hours, and frequent travel to various projects for unpredictable durations, which is tough for those with families.

Why Operation & Maintenance Aren’t Much Better

Operation, maintenance, and repair are not much better than construction and commissioning.

There are many types of mechanical engineers in this field, from office-based roles to those working offshore with 12-hour shifts, facing various risks and hazards.

For example, when I worked on offshore platforms, I was exposed to hydrogen sulfide, which could have been fatal. The romanticism of working at sea, or in the desert, or in the forest wears off quickly.

What Design Engineering Really Means

When I say design, I don't mean sitting in an office drawing in AutoCAD all day, which can seem boring. There are many specializations within design as well, especially in research and development, where you invent, design, and create new technologies and equipment.

Design work is typically office-based with regular hours, so you can spend evenings and weekends with your family—an ideal setup for those with families.

Its much better than working in the middle of the nowhere in the desert, sea or forest with +50 or -50 deg C.

But to be honest, there is one area even better than design. It’s working directly for an equipment manufacturer. That’s where real expertise is built. When you work not just with drawings or with equipment “in the field,” but with the actual manufacturer, you start to understand the equipment on a DNA level. You know how it’s created, what it’s made of, where its weak points are, how to operate it correctly, how to maintain it, improve it, and modernize it. You stop being just an engineer — you become the expert everyone else goes to for answers: designers, operations teams, maintenance teams, service crews, and even clients. This is the smartest path if you want to build a career with deep technical knowledge and become truly valuable in any company and any industry.

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Recommended Industries for the Next 20–30 Years

I also promised to give you my recommendations on which industries are best to work in. Generally, I think it's obvious that we need to look far ahead, about 20-30 years, to see how these industries will develop and where they will be in the future.

It's very unlikely that the oil and gas industry or anything related to diesel and petrol engines will be the favorites.

I would focus more on renewable energy, nuclear power, electric vehicles, and biomedical engineering.

Why Pumps and Pipelines Are a Great Choice

For more specific fields within mechanical engineering, I would pay attention to pumps and pipelines systems, as this equipment is used in almost every industry worldwide.

Pumps and pipelines date back to ancient Egypt, and it's clear they will remain with us for many years because there's always a need to transport various liquids from point A to point B.

So, you could be a mechanical engineer specializing in designing pumps or pipelines.