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Mechanical engineers work in many different areas, but
they all have in common the core engineering knowledge
and skills they developed from their studies and from
continued professional development:
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knowledge
of mechanical systems (e.g., dynamics, kinematics,
solid mechanics, controls) and thermofluid systems
(e.g., thermodynamics; transport phenomena; energy
conversion) |
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understanding
of engineering design principles |
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the
ability to apply this knowledge to solve problems |
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the
communication skills to work with others to realize
these solutions |
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information
technology skills |
The
following characteristics are also helpful:
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the
ability to think in mathematical and abstract terms |
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the
ability to visualize three-dimensional objects from
two-dimensional drawings |
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an
interest in technical processes |
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persistence
and determination |
In
today's multidisciplinary environment, you need additional
skills. Successfully operating in a multidisciplinary
environment requires a broad intellectual perspective.
You will need the psychological and philosophical capacity
to first comprehend and then translate the assumptions
of other fields. Equally important is the ability to
manipulate information into knowledge as well as understand
and communicate across disciplines.
| My
best qualities probably are my ability to work in
a team environment. Working in a team you have to
earn the respect of the people you work with, and
that's a very important thing to learn. And to earn
respect you have to work hard and be diligent, and
I think those are the keys. I think that as part
of a team you have to earn respect of your peers,
and the best way to do that is to do your best always
in all things that are given to you -- big or small
tasks. Teamwork is always a skill that you want
to be able to carry away from any job, because it
will be well used in any other job that you try
to attain in life. - Melinda Cecacci, Aerospace
Technologist, NASA - Johnson Space Center
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