The ideal engineer is a composite ... He is not a scientist, he is not a mathematician, he is not a sociologist or a writer; but he may use the knowledge and techniques of any or all of these disciplines in solving engineering problems.
N.W. Dougherty
Mechanical Engineering can be defined as one of the oldest and widest engineering branch that covers entire stages (design, development, production, quality control, testing) of products ranging from small scale ( microrobots carrying drug in human veins) to large scale (spacecrafts, gigantic construction vehicles) products.
Mechanical engineers work (considering force, heat, moisture, vibration that are exposed on the system) on design, analysis, production, quality control and testing of parts or systems that are required ranging from the most basic parts (such as screw or bolt) to the most complex systems (such as unmanned aerial vehicles, robots, medical systems etc.).
What are the Career Opportunities and Working Areas in Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineers play central roles and tasks in many areas. These areas are; automotive (engine, chassis, suspension, gearbox, etc.), nuclear and thermoelectric power plants, aircraft and spacecraft, biotechnology (prosthetic devices, surgical robots, drug production systems), power generation (hydraulic, gas and wind generators, solar energy , nuclear energy, fuel cells), construction, agriculture and mining machinery, micro-electromechanical systems (micro-sensor and actuator, micro-power generation), computer and electronic devices (packaging, printers, cooling systems, semiconductor tools), heat and heating, ventilation and cooling systems (air conditioning, compressors, pumps), automation (production robots, image identification and control), production (processing, prototype, production tools), system integrations.
Besides being able to work in many industries, mechanical engineering is one of the widest engineering branch in terms of its job positions. Mechanical engineers have the opportunity to work in many other fields such as engineering and management positions in research and development, design, testing, production, quality control, system analysis, computer modeling and simulation, sales and consultancy. Below is a list of some sectors and companies that you can employ in our country when you are a mechanical engineer.
State Sector: Ministry of Industry and Technology, TÜBİTAK, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Ministry of Health, EPDK, BTK etc.
Defence and Aerial Industry: Aselsan, TAI, Havelsan, Roketsan, Mikes, STM, FNSS, TUSAŞ, Otokar, MKEK, Siemens, Netaş, THY, Pegasus etc.
Health: State or Private hospitals, companies that produce medical devices such as General Electric, Siemens, Toshiba etc.
Energy and Automotive: EnerjiSA, Aksa, Zorlu Energy, Sanko Energy, General Electric, Ford, TOFAŞ, Renault, Toyota, Hyundai, BMC etc.
White Goods or Consumer Electronics: Arçelik, Vestel, Bosch, Schneider, Kumtel, Casper etc.
Shipping Industry: Hyundai, Daewoo, Samsung Heavy Industry, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, RMK, Maersk Sealand, COSCO etc.
Construction Industry: China Railway Construction Corp,Skanska AB, Vinci, Bechtel, Hyundai E&C, Kajima, Enka etc.
Beyond these fields and institutions where mechanical engineers can work, AGU Mechanical Engineering students, with the knowledge and education they will acquire, will be equipped with their talent and self-confidence that are required for critical thinking, analysis, solution of problems under difficult conditions and group work, which are necessary for the development and production of systems and products for today's and future's needs. In addition to all these opportunities, it is possible for young engineers who have successfully completed their education to choose academics to continue their research and education studies. Almost all established or newly established universities in our country have mechanical engineering departments, and there is a serious need for successful and productive academics who can teach in English. At this point, AGU Mechanical Engineering with its qualified academician staff offers a unique opportunity for students who want to become academicians.
Machinery and manufacturing industry is; as stated in the TÜBİTAK Vision 2023 “Machine and Material Panel Technology Foresight Report”, one of the most important area for our country. It is planned to conduct qualified and high value-added product-targeted researches at AGU Mechanical Engineering in the following areas:
- Hybrid Vehicles
- Ultra light metals with high strength and composites
- Material Technologies that stores energy (H2)
- Smart Machines (Industrial robots, micro machines etc.)
Will I Love Mechanical Engineering?
If you can say “I am interested in defining and solving problems with the applications of mathematics, physics, basic engineering principles. I have no difficulty understanding concepts such as force, energy and motion. I can work in the fields of design, development, production, assembly, operation and maintenance of machinery, devices, tools and equipment used in today's life and all industry fields, I can participate in developing technology studies and contribute to it”, you can become a successful and effective mechanical engineer. In addition, applying this to your work with the awareness of responsibility towards the environment, society and humanity by reflecting this sense of responsibility will make you a happy and successful individual both in your profession and in life.