7 Mechanical Engineer Interview Questions and Answers
What was the first thing you ever designed?
Some of the best mechanical engineers have been creating things their entire lives. Exploring a candidate’s history with engineering can reveal their passion for the field, even if they were using household items as a child to build something small.
What to look for in an answer:
- A long history of design and innovation
- Evidence they have been troubleshooting for a long time
- Passion for engineering
Example: “I designed a toy car with a functional steering system when I was a kid. I spent weeks on it, figuring out how to create an axle and getting the thing to turn right. I used pieces from other toy cars and screws from around the house.”
What skills would you say are most important for an engineer?
How a candidate understands their role may differ from how you need them to function within the company. This question helps you gauge if you are both on the same page.
What to look for in an answer:
- Evidence they have a comprehensive understanding of the profession
- Confirmation they have thought about their role within the company
- Self-awareness about what assets they bring to table
Example: “The ability to be innovative is the most important quality for an engineer. We have to be able to look at things in a new way, even if it means realizing our past ideas are not as perfect as we thought they were. Our job is always trying to top our last design. Being a good communicator is also a good skill, because you have to be able to explain your idea to the rest of your team and get them to buy into it.”
How would you explain a car’s wheel and axle system to a layperson?
This question assesses how well an engineer can explain complicated designs to people who work in other industries. It’s important that your mechanical engineer be able to articulate their idea to marketing and executive teams in your company before production begins.
What to look for in an answer:
- Evidence they can communicate complicated designs to other teams in a way that makes sense
- Willingness to break down complex issues without becoming frustrated
- Understanding of the importance of communicating engineering points to others
Example: “Axles serve two main purposes. They help bear some of the weight of the car, and they help the steering system turn your wheels. So, when you turn your steering wheel to the right, the axle helps turn the tires and absorbs any weight shift.”
Why do customers buy a product?
Ultimately your candidate’s ideas are only of value to you if they translate into a sellable product. Asking them to get into the mind of a buyer will reveal whether or not your candidate has an understanding of what makes something appealing to a buyer.
What to look for in an answer:
- Indication they understand the necessity to translate complicated ideas to a tangible product
- Understanding of what consumers are looking for
- Willingness to adjust their designs to accommodate consumer needs
Example: “A customer buys a product because it makes their life better. Especially with technology, the product needs to make something easier for them if they’re going to spend their money on it.”
What do you enjoy about working on a team?
No employee is an island, and certainly not a mechanical engineer. An engineer must work with other engineers on their designs and implementation, and with other internal teams who are managing the production and marketing strategies.
What to look for in an answer:
- Evidence they have experience working hand in hand with other teams
- Indication they are willing to accept feedback from other groups in the company
- Thoughtfulness about the importance of teamwork
Example: “Working on a design yourself can be rewarding, but it usually turns out better if you have more than one brain offering input. I enjoy working on a team because someone can always take one of my original ideas and add a new element, and I can do the same thing for other engineers. I also appreciate the communications teams because we can figure out together a way to take intricate ideas and make them easy to understand, which is a nice challenge.”
What is a new engineering skill you’ve acquired in the last year?
Continuing education is an indication that your candidate is committed to excellence and the field of engineering, which will ultimately help your company. This question probes into how they go about staying relevant in the industry and doing great work.
What to look for in an answer:
- Evidence they continue to pursue new skills
- Confirmation their specialty knowledge has grown over time
- Passion about trending fields and potential in engineering
Example: “I took a course on the design of solar water heating systems a few months ago. As the future of energy moves toward solar, I wanted to be familiar with the components and processes of using solar collector systems to generate energy. A lot of what I learned can be applied to other forms of solar absorption construction.”
How do you keep from getting bored when doing routine engineering work?
A lot of engineering work can get monotonous, especially if the engineer is designing similar products or components. This question helps you assess how a candidate creates innovation and excitement where someone else may grow bored and quit.
What to look for in an answer:
- Evidence the candidate persevered through mundane work to create interesting outcomes
- Thoughtfulness about how to motivate others to consider new ideas
- Understanding of the vast possibilities of engineering
Example: “Well, there are always countless possibilities about how to create. One of the best parts of my job is that I get to use tried and true components but assemble them in a new way. I avoid boredom at work by looking for new and improved ways to use the same parts in a more efficient way. Even when that’s not a part of my professional role, I can get that out of my system at home by tinkering on my car or building things in my garage.”
Similar Courses
BIM – Building Information Modelling Course
Revit Architect – AutoDesk Revit Training Course
Diploma in 3DS Max – Animation & Visualizer
Diploma in Graphics & Animation Course
AUTOCAD 2D 3D Course
Download AUTOCAD | AUTODESK – Software
Download AutoCad | AutoDesk 2018 Free Trial
Leave a Reply