Mechanical engineering technician
Mechanical maintenance technician
Mechanical engineering technicians design, install and repair industrial plant machinery and parts.
Salary Range: £18,000 to £40,000
How to become a mechanical engineering technician
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
University
You can do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in mechanical engineering.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
College
You can take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed for the job. Relevant courses include:
- Level 2 Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
- Level 2 Diploma in Engineering Technology
- Level 3 Extended Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
More information
Apprenticeship
You can get into this job through an advanced apprenticeship in mechanical manufacturing engineering or engineering maintenance.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More information
More information
Further information
You’ll find more details about careers and training through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Tomorrow’s Engineers.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- maths knowledge
- design skills and knowledge
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day tasks may include:
- drawing up plans for new ideas, using computer-aided design (CAD) software
- investigating and testing ideas to improve existing systems and solve problems
- making new parts
- installing and testing instruments and machinery
- carrying out preventative maintenance
- identifying and repairing faults
- meeting performance and safety targets
Working environment
You could work in a factory or in an office.
Your working environment may be noisy and outdoors some of the time.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a supervisor or project manager, or specialise in areas like CAD design or quality control.
You could also qualify as an engineer by completing a degree in mechanical engineering.
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