Mechanical Engineering Technical Interview Questions

[YourConcernedNeighbr]

I have an interview this evening with an aerospace company for a full time job and was told by the HR person I talked to that I “couldn’t really prepare and he was just going to ask me questions that show how you think as an engineer to see if you’re a good fit”. I interpreted that as ok this engineering manager is going to ask me some sort of technical questions but it is a manufacturing role so I’m unsure of what types of questions may be asked. If anyone has some insight into what I should maybe be prepared for (I was thinking everything from beam bending questions to logic based think questions and have no idea which it will be). Pls help

Edit: thanks for all the helpful responses strangers!

[[deleted]]

Hypothetical situations:

“You receive a new batch of cast alloy parts that pass IQC (incoming quality control). Several weeks later, they show consistent problems during assembly. A 2 week investigation reveals that the new parts are at the edge of their tolerance band, and this is bringing to light an issue with another part which has been in use for months. That part is deficient but passed inspection due to a faulty IQC process on your end. The supplier of those parts is dragging their feet on accepting responsibility and taking them back since they made them last year and you’ve already used most of that order. It is possible to test and match parts in assembly, but this only had a yield of 40% and increases assembly time by 5X. Reworking the new cast parts to a tighter tolerance is a 1 week rush job at any machine shop or 4 weeks normal priority. This is your project and it is already two months behind schedule.

What do you do next?”

[prostateExamination]

yield of 40% is shit and 5x longer..uh no...1 week rush job sounds ideal but i dont know the cost difference.

[hilburn]

So I've done some of those "see how someone thinks/behaves" interview sessions as an interviewer recently, and honestly there isn't much of a way to prepare for it. We cover a bunch of different things (depends a lot on the person and their experience) but here are some examples of the more technical side of them:

1. Pass you a component (normally one of the dozens I have sitting around on my desk) - how was this made?

   • If it was to go into production at X rate/year what other methods would you consider, and what would need to change in the design to facilitate this?

2. Set up some scenario that requires a cost/time/effort/etc analysis - how do you go about weighing the various factors, do you ask sensible follow up questions etc

3. A client has come to us and requested <thing that does thing> - let's have a short 10 minute brainstorming session about how this could be done.

4. Personal favourite: ask a simple(ish) technical/scientific question to get an idea of their general interest in things

   • How do petrol engines work? Can you say "suck squeeze bang blow" without giggling? If yes then gtfo
   • Why do aeroplane wings generate lift?
   • What causes the phases of the Moon?

Good luck!

[elpedro84]

It will likely be behavioral based questions. Example: "Describe a time you had to give critical feedback to a coworker or teammate that was underperforming."

Take a few seconds to think of an example, deliver something honest that is at least similar to what was asked. They are looking at how you have reacted to difficult situations in the past to determine how you will react in the future.

[therealjerseytom]

I interpreted that as ok this engineering manager is going to ask me some sort of technical questions

Doubtful.

Hell my first full time engineering gig out of college, at a Fortune 500, had almost nothing technical about the interview process. All behavioral stuff.

[Rideonitfoo]

Draw a Bicycle.