Mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is an engineering discipline that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science to design , analyze, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems . It is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering disciplines . The mechanical engineering field requires an understanding of core areas including mechanics , dynamics , thermodynamics , materials science , structural analysis , and electricity . In addition to these core principles, mechanical engineers use tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants , industrial equipment and machinery , heating and cooling systems , transport systems, aircraft ,...