A career in mechanical engineering exposes you to an array of amazing industries. Your work can have you working on the design of new product innovation from driverless cars to the design of life-saving medical & scientific devices, including the latest electron microscopes used by scientists to help develop vaccines. Some of the greatest inventors are skilled Mechanical Design Engineers!

As a Mechanical Engineer, you often have the opportunity to work across the full product life cycle from requirements stages, through to design, production and manufacture. Alongside this, you will innovate existing tech and detail potential improvements. Mechanical Engineers use 2D and 3D computer-aided software to assist with the design stages of products and systems. They can also utilise thermodynamic, materials science and simulation engineering techniques, to help build robust designs, for example, engine turbines that can resist very high levels of stress and tolerance without failing.

As a senior – you will have a mix of hands-on design, innovation, and leadership skills. You will often be charged with liaising with senior management about the existing issues with tech and the ways in which the team can push the technology forward. You will often also be charged with leading and mentoring the more junior Engineers in the team. Depending on the company, you may also be tasked with compiling and presenting on the current state of your product life-cycle and how you intend to take it forward.

Mechanical Design Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Electro-Mechanical Engineer
Product Design Engineer
Mechatronics Engineer
Microfluidics Engineer
Stress Engineer

Junior Design Engineer
Mechanical Design Engineer
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Principal Engineer
Engineering Manager

We’ve outlined the latest salary benchmarks for Mechanical Engineering roles in the guide below:

Engineering Salary guide UK

The following technologies and skills often appear on job descriptions;

Mechanical Engineering, 3D design (using software tools such as Solidworks, PTC Creo, Catia and AutoCAD), CAE, Thermodynamics, Materials selection, Stress, Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing, and Data Analysis (Matlab, ANSYS, Labview).

Often clients will look for candidates to hold a Bsc in engineering, product design, mathematics, physics or computer science. Otherwise, they will look for candidates who have undertaken an apprenticeship related to the field. A technical background, be it academic or industry-related, is normally necessary to secure a role in the field.

Salary:

£23k – £30k

What They Do:

Supports design and production activities by creating CAD models, performing basic calculations, and assisting in product testing and assembly.

Skills Needed:

• Proficiency with CAD tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA)
• Understanding of manufacturing processes
• Basic knowledge of materials science
• Drafting and technical drawing skills
• Attention to detail and teamwork

Salary:

£30k – £38k

What They Do:

Works on product designs, simulations, and prototypes. Assists in developing mechanical systems and liaises with production and quality teams.

Skills Needed:

• FEA and simulation tools (ANSYS, Abaqus)
• Mechanical design principles
• Tolerance analysis and GD&T
• Knowledge of industry standards (BS, ISO)
• Strong problem-solving abilities

Salary:

£38k – £50k

What They Do:

Leads product design projects, manages timelines and budgets, and ensures components meet specifications and regulatory requirements.

Skills Needed:

• Advanced CAD and FEA skills
• Project management experience (Agile/Waterfall)
• Supplier and vendor coordination
• Lean manufacturing principles
• Strong communication with cross-functional teams

Salary:

£50k – £65k

What They Do:

Owns mechanical design strategy, mentors junior engineers, and oversees prototyping and product verification.

Skills Needed:

• Systems-level design and integration
• Advanced materials knowledge (composites, metals, polymers)
• Risk and failure mode analysis (FMEA)
• Budget and resource management
• Team leadership and mentoring

Salary:

£65k – £80k

What They Do:

Sets mechanical engineering standards and leads high-level projects. Acts as a technical authority and supports R&D.

Skills Needed:

• Design authority and strategic oversight
• Advanced mechanical systems architecture
• Cost optimisation and innovation management
• Stakeholder communication and executive reporting
• Global standards and compliance expertise

Salary:

£80k – £110k+

What They Do:

Oversees the entire mechanical engineering function, defines long-term strategies, and aligns the engineering team with company goals.

Skills Needed:

• Executive-level leadership and planning
• Resource and budget allocation
• External partnerships and supplier negotiations
• Product lifecycle and process optimisation
• Broad expertise across mechanical systems and manufacturing