The government is a major employer of mechanical engineers, at the local, state and federal levels. In the federal government, mechanical engineers maintain federal dams, work on space shuttles, research renewable energy technologies, and work on defense systems for the armed forces. Mechanical engineers involved in government research contribute to key policy decisions on the development and use of technology. For example, engineers working with the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, or with NASA conduct research into solar energy, advanced materials, radioactive waste removal, magnetic-levitation trains and space missions to Mars. This research has a direct impact on business and on people's lives. At the state and local levels, mechanical engineers work for highway or energy departments, departments of transportation or public service, or for port authorities.

The federal government has long been involved in promoting and funding research and development in science and engineering, and is heavily involved in multidisciplinary engineering efforts. In the late 1950s, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) funded the first materials research laboratories, and by the early 1960s, the Interdisciplinary Research Laboratories. In the 1970s, international economic competition created added pressure for a new technology initiative, so in 1985, the National Science Foundation (NSF) established the Engineering Research Centers Program, followed by the Science and Technology Centers Program. More recently, President Clinton created the National Nanotechnology Initiative, a multi-agency research effort devoted to promoting advances in nanoscience and engineering. There are ample opportunities for engineers to work in the administration of these and other technical programs.