Mechanical Engineering Interview Questions: Ultimate Guide

Mechanical engineers work in manufacturing, production, or research and development industries. They also work on product development, testing, design, installation, and maintenance. 

Mechanical engineering goes back thousands of years ago, and it emerged during France’s industrial revolution for the first time. Engineering is one of the most diversified industries, and it applies mathematics, physics, engineering, and material science in different fields.  

Professional mechanical engineers use project management and computer-aided design for building products such as weapons, aircraft, or robotic devices. They should have a good level of knowledge about material science and thermodynamics. 

Mechanical engineers design products such as electric generators, burning engines, steam turbines, air conditioning, escalators, and elevators.

What are a mechanical engineer’s roles and responsibilities?

Mechanical engineers work in many different fields; they all work on the problems that need to be solved. Mechanical engineers use math, physics, and technology knowledge to understand the main issue, research it, and design and provide solutions. 

A mechanical engineer’s primary responsibilities are:

• Design, manufacture, and install components 
• Analyze problems or shortages and provide solutions to solve them.
• Run experiments to improve production and manage product demands.

Some other critical responsibilities of mechanical engineers are:

• Execute a complete product development (design, manufacture, and implementation)
• Run experiments, analyze data, and transcribe results
• Test and assess theoretical designs
• Identify and produce constructive solutions 
• Evaluate the product’s performance, reliability, and safety
• Modify plans to meet requirements and eliminate breakdowns
• Calculate the budget and capacity of the project
• Ask for observations from operators
• Prepare reports and documentation about products
• Participate in long-lasting learning and develop new methods

What skills should a mechanical engineer have?

Mechanical engineers should have many skills to gain successful results. Mechanical engineers work on building, designing, and testing tools such as machines, engines, and many other industries.

Professional mechanical engineers usually have a combination of hard, soft, and technical skills. Technical skills are different based on the work field but usually involve software knowledge and industrial standards.

Mechanical engineers work with other industries and groups. As a result, soft skills can help them to work with other individuals, managers, and clients. These communications can be very effective in their role.

Some of the most critical skills for mechanical engineers are as below:

• maths knowledge
• knowledge of engineering science 
• Knowledge of engineering technology
• the ability to use, repair, and maintain machines 
• analytical thinking skills
• being accurate and paying attention to details
• knowledge of physics
• the ability to come up with new ideas 
• Use computer programs and the leading software effectively 
• Problem-Solving
• Creativity
• Communication and Leadership
• Teamwork

Hard skill questions for mechanical engineers’ interview

Here are some hard skills questions pre-employment tests ask you.

1. Explain how hydraulics work on a machine
2. What is the significance of tolerance in engineering?
3. What is a process flow diagram?
4. What are the various types of brakes?
5. What is knurling?
6. Which elements do you need to increase the corrosion resistance of steel?
7. What are the advantages of cycloidal gears?
8. What are the principal constituents of brass?
9. How can you identify different types of steel?
10. An elastomer is a polymer when its percentage elongation rate is?
11. Define latent heat.
12. Distinguish between fatigue and creep.
13. What is the second law of thermodynamics?
14. What is the process flow diagram? 
15. What is the benefit of pneumatics?
16. Explain mechanical refrigeration.
17. What is a P&ID? 
18. What is the difference between a tube and a pipe?
19. What is GD&T?

Behavioral questions for mechanical engineers’ interview

1. Describe a circumstance when you reached an objective and tell us how you accomplished it.
2. Tell me about a time you led your engineering team to complete a major project before the estimated time and aligned with company objectives. To what do you ascribe this outcome?
3. Describe a situation when you went above and beyond with your service (for the customer, for the colleague).
4. Tell me about a time when training a new team member or members proved difficult. Why was this, how did you deal with this situation, and what was the outcome?
5. Tell us about an obstacle you overcame.
6. Describe an experience when defining the needs of a critical project brought up issues new to you. How did you deal with this, and what happened?
7. Describe a situation when you had to persuade someone at work.
8. Tell me about a time when for reasons out of the engineering department’s hands, that did not work with the timelines you envisioned. How did you respond then, what happened, and what are your thoughts on this issue today?
9. Describe a time when you faced an angry or upset client.
10. Describe an experience during a project where subjects with vendors, suppliers, or others, started to threaten your project. How did you communicate your problems, and to who? What was the outcome of your project?
11. Describe a situation when you had to reach a tight deadline.
12. Describe when you struggled to communicate with your boss, colleague, or customer. How did you manage to send your message?
13. Describe a difficult decision you had to make in your professional career. How did making this decision affect you?
14. What’s the best project you’ve ever worked on your resume?
15. Describe when you struggled to make a relationship with someone important. How did you eventually overcome that?

Soft skill questions for mechanical engineers’ interview

1. Why did you study mechanical engineering?
2. How do you translate complex ideas or designs to less technical team members? 
3. What skills do you think to make you an ideal Mechanical Engineer?
4. What are the essential skills a mechanical engineer must have?
5. How would you proceed if you noticed a mistake in your engineering work?
6. What is your CAD system of choice? And Why?
7. Name an engineering skill you have learned recently.
8. If a team member suggested you an engineering project which you disagreed with, what would be your response?
9. What is the most successful engineering project on your resume?
10. Do you have any unsuccessful engineering projects on your resume?
11. What are your favorite mechanical engineering tasks?
12. Describe your flaw-checking process.
13. Do you prefer to work alone or with a team of engineers?
14. Have you ever delivered an unfinished engineering task to a customer? If yes, Why? 
15. How would you describe a complex design to a non-technical person?

Conclusion

Experience mechanical engineers are practical problem-solvers and should be able to focus on technical work under pressure. That is why employers usually ask specific questions while interviewing mechanical engineering candidates.

A mechanical engineer has a significant technical role, so employers might ask technical questions at the interview to understand their experience level.

Recruiters want to make sure the candidate has the necessary qualifications with enough knowledge about the field to gain the best results. 

The interview questions evaluate if the candidate is ready to take the role by focusing on the technical field of mechanical engineering. The difficulty of questions depends on your application position.

If candidates apply for an advanced role, they should answer more technical questions; therefore, all applicants should understand the job description and have the necessary technical knowledge requirements.

Mechanical engineering candidates should research before the interview to understand what to expect from a technical interview. 

Before an interview, mechanical engineers should study related technical data, information, and concepts.