Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-2141.00
Mechanical Engineers
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
- US jobs
- 296,810
- Median wage
- $104,110 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of mechanical engineers?
We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Architecture and engineering:
- Task levelUnexploredNo task-level benchmark in our collection tests architecture or engineering design work, such as CAD modeling or engineering calculations.
- Project levelNot yetWhole projects are mostly out of reach. The Remote Labor Index includes 3D, CAD, and architecture projects; across all its projects, the best agent completed 15.8% to a standard a client would accept. GDPval includes mechanical engineers, and its deliverables score higher, but those tasks are one-shot and fully specified.
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
- 1846 EloClaude Opus 5.5 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort, Default Fallback) · 23 Sep 2026Unrated
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
- Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
- Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, or other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, or maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
- Provide technical customer service.
- Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.
- Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software.
- Conduct research that tests or analyzes the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of equipment, components, or systems.
- Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
Other job titles for this occupation (79)
Application Engineer · Design Engineer · Equipment Engineer · Mechanical Design Engineer · Mechanical Designer · Mechanical Engineer · Product Development Engineer · Product Engineer · Project Engineer · Test Engineer · Air Conditioning Engineer (AC Engineer) · Automation Engineer · Body Engineer · Brake Engineer · Car Designer · Combustion Engineer · Cooling and Heating Systems Design Engineer · Cryogenics Engineer · Diesel Engineer · Diesel Retrofit Designer · Distribution Engineer · Dust Control Engineer · Electromechanical Engineer · Engine Designer · Engineer · Erecting Engineer · Facilities Mechanical Design Engineer · Field Service Engineer · Geothermal Power Generation Mechanical Engineer · Heating and Cooling Systems Engineer · Heating Engineer · HVAC Design Mechanical Engineer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Design Mechanical Engineer) · HVAC Engineer (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Engineer) · HVAC Engineer (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Engineer) · HVAC Sensor and Digital Control Designer (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Sensor and Digital Control Designer) · Hydraulic Engineer · Hydroelectric Plant Mechanical Engineer · Industrial Green Systems Designer · Industrial Retrofit Designer · Installation Engineer · Internal Combustion Engineer · Machine Design Engineer · Machine Tool Designer · Mechanical Design Facilities Engineer · Mechanical Development Engineer · Mechanical Engineering Intern · Mechanical Equipment Test Engineer · Mechanical HVAC Engineer (Mechanical Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Engineer) · Mechanical Project Engineer · Mechanical Research Engineer · Motorcycle Designer · Plant Engineer · Plant Equipment Engineer · Products Engineer · Products Mechanical Design Engineer · Refrigeration Engineer · Reliability Engineer · Research and Development Engineer (R&D Engineer) · Roller Coaster Designer · Roller Coaster Engineer · Servomechanism Designer · Sheet Metal Engineer · Stress Analyst · Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) · Systems Engineer · Test Inspection Engineer · Textile Engineer · Tool and Die Engineer · Tool Design Engineer · Tool Designer · Tool Engineer · Tool Maker · Tooling Engineer · Utilization Engineer · Ventilating Engineer · Ventilating Expert · Weapons Designer · Weapons Engineer · Wind Turbine Mechanical Engineer