What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineers research, develop, design, manufacture and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. They work on power-producing machines such as electricity-producing generators, internal combustion engines, steam and gas turbines, and jet and rocket engines. They also develop power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, robots used in manufacturing, machine tools, materials handling systems, air/ground/marine transportation systems, and industrial production equipment. Mechanical engineers also design tools needed by other engineers for their work.

Mechanical engineers work in many industries and their work varies by industry and function. Some specialties include materials and structures; computer-aided design and manufacturing; energy systems; pressure vessels and piping; and heating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning systems. Mechanical engineering is the broadest engineering discipline, extending across many interdependent specialties. Mechanical engineers may work in production operations, maintenance, or technical sales; many are administrators or managers.*

Research areas at UCLA:

What are some occupations related to Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineers may specialize in areas such as research and development, engineering design, production, and plant and maintenance. Samples of job titles are:

Mechanical Engineer
Process Engineer
MEMS Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer
Quality or QA Engineer
Packaging Engineer
Design Engineer
Robotics Engineer
Structural Engineer

What are some industries that recruit Mechanical Engineering majors?
Mechanical engineers are involved in a wide range of industries including aviation, power generation, manufacturing, refrigeration and air-conditioning, transportation and mechanical handling. The majority of the jobs are in manufacturing and design—mostly in machinery, transportation equipment, electrical equipment, instruments, and fabricated metal products industries. Engineering and management services, business services, Colleges and Universities, consulting firms, and the Federal Government are other areas of possible employment.

Who are some employers that have recruited UCLA Mechanical Engineering majors?
ACCENTURE
AGILENT
ANHEUSER-BUSCH
APPLE COMPUTERS
AVAYA
BLACK AND VEATCH
BOEING
CAP GEMINI ERNST & YOUNG
CYTEC INDUSTRIES
DASSAULT SYSTEMES OF AMERICA
EATON
GTRAN
GUIDANT
HUGHES SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS
INTEL CORP.
KURT SALMON
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NAT'L LABS
LOCKHEED MARTIN
LSI LOGIC CORP.
LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES
MICROSOFT
MOTOROLA
NORTHRUP GRUMMAN CORP.
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
PROCTOR & GAMBLE
QUANTUM
RAYTHEON CO.
SCHLUMBERGER
STELLEX ELECTRONICS
STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ENGINEERING
SYSKA & HENNESSY, INC.
TETRA TECH, INC.
TRW
UNISYS
VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR
VIZIONAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
XEROX

Which Student Groups are related to Mechanical Engineering:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers www.seas.ucla.edu/asme
The Society of Automotive Engineers www.uclaracing.com
American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics www.seas.ucla.edu/aiaa
Engineering Society of University of California www.esuc.seas.ucla.edu
Engineering Graduate Student Association www.seas.ucla.edu/egsa

Professional Associations:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers www.asme.org
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=1
National Society of Professional Engineers www.nspe.org
Society of Women Engineers www.swe.org
American Institute of Engineers www.members-aie.org
Resource - Scholarly Societies www.scholarly-societies.org/mecheng_soc.html
Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering www.sampe.org

Some Web Resources for further research and information:
UCLA Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering www.mae.ucla.edu
Occupational Outlook Handbook-Mechanical Engineers www.bls.gov/oco/ocos033.htm
California EDD description www.calmis.cahwnet.gov/file/occguide/ENGMECH.HTM

Mechanical Engineering

Some resources available in the UCLA Career Center Library:

• CAREER EXPLORATION
  Career Management For Scientists And Engineers by John K. Borchardt
  Careers In Engineering by Geraldine O. Garner
  Directory Of California Technology Companies by Harris Info Source
  The Fantastical Engineer: A Thrillseeker’s Guide to Careers in Theme Park
  Engineering by Cleste Baine
  Great Jobs For Engineering Majors by Geraldine O. Garner
  Is There an Engineer Inside You? A Comprehensive Guide to Career Decisions in Engineering by Celeste Baine
  Job Choices In Science, Engineering, And Technology by NACE
  “Mechanical Engineers” In The Chronicle Occupational Library by CGP
  Opportunities In Engineering Careers by Nicholas Basta
  Plunkett’s Engineering And Research Industry Almanac by Jack Plunkett, ed.
  Professional Careers Sourcebook: Where to find help planning careers that require college or technical degrees", 5th ed. Kathleen E. Maki & Kathleen M. Savage, eds. The Space Publications Guide To Space Careers by Scott Sacknoff & Leonard David
  
  
• GRADUATE SCHOOL
  The Best Graduate Programs: Engineering, 2ND ED. by the Princeton Review
  The Grad School Handbook by Richard Jerrard & Margot Jerrard
  Graduate School Admissions Advisor by Kaplan [See: “Chapter 7: Engineering”]
  Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way Into The Graduate School Of Your Choice by Donald Asher
  Peterson’s Graduate Programs In Engineering And Applied Sciences by Peterson’s
  Rea’s Authoritative Guide To Graduate Schools by the Research and Education Association [See “Chapter 37: Mechanical Engineering”]

Prepared by Iris Morgan in collaboration with HSSEAS faculty/staff, 2004.