Mechanical engineers are experts on machines, engines, and a wide variety of energy-related systems.
They design new manufacturing processes that increase industrial efficiency and protect the environment. They are concerned with mechanical design, energy conversion, fuel and combustion technology, heat transfer, materials, noise control and acoustics, manufacturing processes, automatic control, solar energy, product safety and reliability, and technological impacts on society. Career opportunities are widely available because virtually every industry depends upon mechanical engineers. Several areas of specialization can be pursued as interdisciplinary degree programs. Among these are bioengineering, which involves the application of engineering principles to medicine and biology, and manufacturing engineering, which encompasses engineering and business concepts and provides students with the skills necessary to succeed in a manufacturing environment.