ABOUT THE CAREER:Mechanical engineering technology involves design, testing, production and utilization of all types of mechanical equipment. Employment may be in product design, proto-

typing, product testing, automation/robotics, instrumentation, hydraulics, fluid systems and manufacturing.

Engineering design uses Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs and other computer-based programs to design and create mechanical part devices.

Designers work with clients to create a customized item, using hand or computer sketches and wood, clay or plastic models to create prototypes and then work with

manufacturers for the finished product. Industries such as automotive, toy, appliance, medical equipment, furniture, tool, housewares and construction often contract these

services.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARNStudents will learn about static and dynamic forces; materials and product develop-

ment, design and testing; industrial machines, controls and systems; Computer Aided Design and simulation software; solid modeling and finite element analysis; electric-

ity, hydraulics and material science; machining skills & CNC machine operation and programming; and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.

NMU DEGREES

Four-year bachelor’s degree (120 credits)MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Graduates are employed as mechanical designers, applications engineers, quality

engineers, and manufacturing engineers.

CONTACT: Robert Marlor • rmarlor@nmu.edu • 906-227-2897or Michael Martin, michaema@nmu.edu • 906-227-1179nmu.edu/engineering

College: paid internship; certificate to bachelor’s and beyondApprentice Programs: MillwrightHigh School: work as an entry-level CAD technician

CAREER PATH

5% high school20% some college or associate degree

75% bachelor’s degree or higher

$40/hr.(earnings range: $26 - $62/hr.)

+ 5% (National)+ 18% (Michigan)

Projected Job Growthto 2024

Education levels of current workers

Median Earnings

JOB SPOTLIGHT - Mechanical Engineer

MECHANICAL

“I get to supplement what I learn in class with a hands-on application, in labs. In addition to that, I also enjoy the fact that this Mechanical Engineering Technology program has taught me more about product design and manufacturing, while most ME programs teach primarily math, physics, and calculus, and do not teach much about working in industry. In one of my recent classes, I designed a product that would help with the removal of a truck bed topper. This project included everything down to specifying fasteners and materials. We also had a list of constraints limiting the product’s weight, cost, functionality, size, and mechanisms. This project did an excellent job of showing the students in my class how to effectively create a product, starting with the original idea, and taking it all the way through to the last stage before manufacturing.”

Austin MorrisMechanical Engineering Technology Majorfrom Johnsburg, Illinois

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MECHANICAL

PROFILE