Will AI replace Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians?
Estimated risk score: 42 out of 100
Lower replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (23 to 61).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 30 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 17-3027.00 · Architecture and Engineering
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 6 of its 30 rated tasks. In O*NET’s words.
- Prepare equipment inspection schedules, reliability schedules, work plans, or other records.
- Record test procedures and results, numerical and graphical data, and recommendations for changes in product or test methods.
- Conduct statistical studies to analyze or compare production costs for sustainable and nonsustainable designs.
- Calculate required capacities for equipment of proposed system to obtain specified performance and submit data to engineering personnel for approval.
- Prepare parts sketches and write work orders and purchase requests to be furnished by outside contractors.
- Discuss changes in design, method of manufacture and assembly, or drafting techniques and procedures with staff and coordinate corrections.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 7 of its 30 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Assemble or disassemble complex mechanical systems.
- Set up and conduct tests of complete units and components under operational conditions to investigate proposals for improving equipment performance.
- Test machines, components, materials, or products to determine characteristics such as performance, strength, or response to stress.
- Set up prototype and test apparatus and operate test controlling equipment to observe and record prototype test results.
- Assist mechanical engineers in product testing through activities such as setting up instrumentation for automobile crash tests.
- Devise, fabricate, or assemble new or modified mechanical components for products such as industrial machinery or equipment, and measuring instruments.
What the job is
Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or adjust machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.
Also called: Research and Development Technician (R and D Tech), R and D Tech, Tool Analyst, Brinell Tester, Engineering Aide, Engineering Analyst, Tool Design Checker, Gyroscope Technician.
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate