1. Mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is the discipline that applies the principles of engineering, physics, and materials science for the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the design, production, and operation of machinery. It is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering disciplines.

2. Duties Mechanical engineers research, design, develop and test mechanical and thermal devices including tools, engines and machines. Some of the more-common devices serve the medical, energy and automated manufacturing sectors. Many mechanical engineers work in general-purpose and automotive manufacturing industries or in architectural and engineering service companies. Mechanical engineers also work in research and development testing laboratories. They typically spend their workdays in professional office settings but sometimes visit work sites to solve issues associated with newly deployed or existing equipment. Because mechanical engineers design and work with all types of mechanical systems, careers in mechanical engineering span across many industries. Anything that involves force, energy or motion involves mechanical engineering. A mechanical engineering career in the aerospace industry means you could design the next big energy-efficient jet engine. In the robotics industry you might build a robot that helps save lives. The entertainment industry also hosts careers in mechanical engineering. From grand Broadway stages that move to roller coasters that thrill, mechanical engineers design and bring to life new and exciting devices. According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, aspiring engineers can find a career in just about any industry, including: Aerospace Systems Engineering Robotics/Robotics Engineering Petroleum Engineering Biomedical Engineering Nuclear Engineering Civil Engineering

3. Pay and working environments Mechanical engineers typically spend most of their time working in an office environment, but some are required to spend a lot of time at construction sites or manufacturing facilities. For example, if a customer is having trouble with their manufacturing equipment, an engineer may need to travel to the site to figure out what's going wrong. In some cases, mechanical engineers need to be away from home for extended periods of time. Mechanical engineering is a deadline driven occupation, and these engineers work under constant pressure to deliver their designs on time. When solving a particularly complex problem, it can be very easy to feel overwhelmed as a deadline approaches. Mechanical engineers are around the middle of the pack relative to other engineering disciplines when it comes to compensation. As one of the largest engineering disciplines and facing a slow job market, mechanical engineers starting salaries was slightly less than $59,000 in 2009. The median salary for mechanical engineers was about $75,000 during the same year, and the top ten percent of earners received compensation topping $114,000 in 2009. According to the BLS, http://www.bls.gov/oco/

4. Education required High School Studies Engineering school admission requirements typically include a high school diploma with a full menu of math and science courses, plus humanities and computer studies. High school preparation should include geometry, trigonometry, algebra and calculus, plus physics, chemistry and biology. Degree Requirement Most employers prefer a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering for entry-level mechanical engineering jobs. However, some graduates with other engineering specialties, or with a bachelor's in science or math, can find mechanical engineering jobs when demand is particularly high. Mechanical engineering programs at the bachelor's level normally take at least four years to complete. Many hiring managers prefer graduates of programs with accreditation from ABET, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.