You’re in the process of hiring a mechanical engineer. Before interviewing the candidates that you’ve carefully vetted on paper, you’ll need to know what questions to ask. We have compiled a list of 10 mechanical engineer interview questions that will qualify your applicants and the knowledge they’ll need to be effective for your company.
Here are 10 mechanical engineer interview questions:
1. How can two different types of fuel engines with the same capacity have different outputs?
The goal of this question is to test how the applicant understands the distinctions in productivity between different options. Your product design should be as lean as possible, and a quality mechanical engineer should be able to show their judgement for the best results.
2. Air is a bad conductor of heat and the sun is always emitting steadily. Why is it hotter in the summer?
The metaphor here is to get the applicant to think about ALL of the different aspects in a certain phenomenon. The mindset that you are looking for is one that sees the bigger picture and can understand the various influencers in your product.
3. Why is the back wheel of a tractor bigger than the front wheel?
This is a question that pushes the respondent to think critically about design. There has to be a logical reason why tractors are designed that way. Whether or not they can answer that example correctly, they must understand that there is a specific reason why that design is more effective.
4. Why are manhole covers usually elliptical?
Once again, the question brings the focus to the “why” of the design. Force the applicant to hypothesize about possible reasons why ellipses might be more effective than circles to see if their thought process will carry over to your needs.
5. Cooling is an essential aspect to address in engine design. What are the effects of overcooling?
Addressing cooling is vital in a product that outputs heat. The issue is that overcooling can reduce capacity and can waste excess energy. A great engineer will take this into account in the design process to ensure that you do the most with the least resources.
6. Explain a nuclear reactor in layman’s terms.
Understanding basic types of energy sources is well within the job description of a mechanical engineer. An adequate candidate will have such a firm grasp on these types of topics that they will be able to give a stranger an explanation of the concept. This is also an excellent way to see on what kind of level they can connect with the rest of the organization.
7. How do you deal with stress?
Every mechanical engineer has to address the concerns of stress on the job. How do they deal with stress? How do they channel negative energy?
8. Describe the basic components required to make a display appear on a screen.
Getting a little more technical, a fair mechanical engineer interview question is asking them to describe all of the pieces in a ubiquitous machine type. The right candidate will be able to explain results, such as how power, circuits, and the display are connected to create a picture.
9. Explain what product design encompasses.
Everything from customer analysis, size and shape, to branding and packaging make up the entire product. A product is the culmination of its design, effectiveness, and branding. You cannot forget the cohesive pieces of the puzzle that need to come together to attract the maximum amount of customers.
10. Why does a customer buy a product?
Oftentimes, an engineer’s focus is on the features and capabilities that they can accomplish in their creation. The lost direction is the customer’s perspective. The ONLY way that your product will be successful when it hits the market is if it addresses a need or can create value.
A quality candidate has the capability to design the products as well as the processes behind them. Asking types of questions that test their design and machine knowledge as well as how those connect to the rest of the department will give you a 360 degree view of their propensity to fit in to your company culture and perform the all-important design that you need to be a successful and sustainable business.
TruPath helps organizations find culturally aligned talent. Contact our team today to learn how we may be able to assist you in hiring a mechanical engineer.