Throughout your time in college and your career as a professional engineer, you can work on cultivating the essential skills and characteristics needed for this field. Successful mechanical engineers need a combination of hard and soft skills. Some examples of crucial hard skills for this field include the following:
- Data analysis
- Statistics
- Calculus
- Computer literacy, including computer-aided design (CAD)
- The ability to understand and interpret reports and blueprints
- Technical writing skills
Of course, like virtually every other profession, mechanical engineers can also benefit from possessing other professional skills. For instance, they need to be skilled communicators who can clearly explain their design plans to stakeholders who may not possess a high level of technical knowledge. Other important skills for these professionals include the following:
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Active listening
- Leadership
- Sound judgment
- Project management
- Collaborative mindset
Arguably, the main characteristic of successful mechanical engineers is an enduring curiosity about the world around them. This curiosity drives engineers to create inventive designs intended to make life better. Mechanical engineers tend to be both highly analytical and intensely creative. They tend to love puzzles and brainteasers that require abstract thought. Mechanical engineers love a good challenge and enjoy thinking logically, but they aren’t afraid to think outside the box when a situation calls for it.
The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program at Grand Canyon University (GCU) can prepare you to pursue innovations in the field. Our engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. To learn more about GCU’s STEM programs offered by the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, fill out the form on this page.
1 Institution of Mechanical Engineers. (2023). Mechanical Engineering History Timeline, Pre-17th Century. IMechE. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
2 Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc (2021). Licensure, Registration & Certification. ABET. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
3 National Society of Professional Engineers. (2007, July 28). Demonstrating Qualifying Engineering Experience For Licensure. NSPE. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
4 The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. (2023). FE Exam. NCEES. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
Approved by the engineering instructor of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology on June 19, 2023.