How to become a Mechanical Engineering Associate

Duties & Tasks of a Mechanical Engineering Associate

Mechanical engineering associates:

• Collect and analyse data, carry out complex calculations and prepare diagrams
• Organise and supervise the manufacture, operation and maintenance of plant machinery and equipment such as engines, air conditioners and other mechanical equipment
• Assemble and install new or altered mechanical equipment, parts, machine tools and controls, and help to construct, maintain and repair engineering machinery
• Perform or direct field or laboratory testing and analysis of results
• Estimate machinery requirements and material costs and quantities
• Produce designs, detailed drawings and documentation, manually or with the aid of computer-aided design (CAD), under the direction of mechanical engineers and technologists
• Make sure that designs and finished work comply with the required specifications, regulations and contracts
• Select tools and equipment
• Organise and supervise inspection and maintenance of machinery and plant.

Tasks

• Ensures that designs and finished work are within specifications, regulations and contract provisions.
• Assembles and installs new and modified mechanical assemblies, components, machine tools and controls, and hydraulic power systems.
• Estimates material costs and quantities, and machine requirements.
• Performs and directs field and laboratory tests.
• Selects tools and equipment.
• Organises and supervises inspection and maintenance of machines and plant.
• Collects and analyses data, carries out complex computations and prepares diagrams.

Working conditions for a Mechanical Engineering Associate

Mechanical engineering associates work in offices, technical laboratories, workshops or on site. They work in teams, usually reporting to engineers or technologists, supervising technicians and tradespeople.

Employment Opportunities for a Mechanical Engineering Associate

Mechanical engineering associates are employed in the manufacturing industry as well as by architectural and technical (engineering consultancy) services, and in the electricity, gas, water and minerals industries. Most work is located in metropolitan areas.Firms vary in size from small operations to large government enterprises. Many people in this occupation work on a contract basis and can be very mobile. A major area of employment is engineering drafting.There are opportunities for promotion to positions managing design teams or whole drawing offices. With ability and the completion of further courses of study, associates may diversify into other areas of production engineering and/or management. With further training and experience, it is possible to become a fully qualified engineer.

Specializations

Mechanical Engineering Associate

Mechanical engineering associates assist mechanical engineers and engineering technologists with the design, manufacture, construction, operation and maintenance of machines, manufacturing equipment, mechanical installations and mechanical facilities. They usually have a range of duties carried out under the direction of mechanical engineers and engineering technologists.

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  Average age

  42 years

• 

  Future Growth

  Decline

• 

  Gender Share

  3% female

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  Average full-time

  46 hours

• 

  Weekly Pay

  $1,838

• 

  Skill level rating

  High skill

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  Unemployment

  Lower unemployment

• 

  Full-Time Share

  91% Full-Time

• 

  Employment Size

  1,100 workers

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  Employment by state

  ACT: 1.1%
  NSW: 24.1%
  NT: 1.1%
  QLD: 15.8%
  SA: 8.5%
  TAS: 1.9%
  VIC: 23.1%
  WA: 24.4%
  
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  Age brackets

  15-19: 0.8%
  20-24: 4.9%
  25-34: 24.1%
  35-44: 27.8%
  45-54: 23.8%
  55-59: 8.7%
  60-64: 6.1%
  65 and Over: 3.9%
  
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  Education level

  Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 16.8%
  Bachelor degree: 12.5%
  Certificate III/IV: 56.4%
  Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 2.7%
  Year 10 and below: 4.1%
  Year 11: 1.9%
  Year 12: 5.7%