Where UK mechanical engineers work — design, manufacturing, automotive, energy and building services — which occupation code applies, the salary a sponsored role would need, and current mechanical engineering vacancies. Mechanical engineering in the UK is less one profession than a family of them. Product and design engineers in automotive, aerospace and consumer goods spend most of their time in CAD and simulation, iterating towards a manufacturable design. Building services engineers design the HVAC and mechanical systems of buildings and work alongside architects and structural engineers. Plant, energy and process engineers keep large physical assets running safely. Employers hire against that specialism, so a graduate application that names the sector and shows relevant project work is far stronger than a generic one. The IMechE accredits degrees and training schemes and sets the route to Chartered Engineer status, which most large employers support formally.
Official occupation code: SOC 2122 — Mechanical engineers.
Listed as an eligible occupation for the Skilled Worker route. This occupation is currently listed as eligible for the Skilled Worker route. Individual eligibility also depends on factors including the specific job, salary, employer sponsorship and applicable immigration rules.
Skilled Worker going rate for occupation 2122: £46,800 standard. General salary threshold: £41,700. New entrant (70% column), where eligible: £33,400. Source: GOV.UK, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations.
Graduate suitability: High. Mechanical engineering is the broadest UK engineering discipline by employer type — aerospace and automotive manufacturers, defence, energy, building services consultancies and process industries all run graduate schemes, and SMEs hire design engineers directly.
Design mechanical components, assemblies and systems in 3D CAD and take them through prototyping to production
Run stress, thermal and fluid analyses to prove a design will perform and survive its loads
Specify materials, tolerances and manufacturing processes, and produce drawings to BS 8888
Test prototypes, interpret results and iterate designs
Skills employers test: Mechanics of materials, stress analysis and fatigue, Thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics applied to real systems, Design for manufacture and assembly, with knowledge of machining, casting, welding and additive processes, Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing to BS 8888 / ISO GPS, Finite element and computational fluid dynamics analysis.
Progression: Graduate Mechanical Engineer → Mechanical or Design Engineer (working towards CEng) → Senior Engineer / Chartered Engineer → Lead or Principal Engineer, Engineering Manager → Chief Engineer, Head of Engineering or Technical Director.
Occupation code 2122 covers professional mechanical, automotive and marine engineers and naval architects. Maintenance engineers, fitters, service engineers and technicians are classified elsewhere and are excluded, as are roles that are principally electrical (2123) or aerospace (2126). Defence and nuclear roles frequently require security clearance tied to UK residence history.
Official information last checked 2026-09-10. We provide educational guidance and university application support. We do not provide legal, visa, or immigration advice.
Can mechanical engineers get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Occupation code 2122 is listed as eligible for the Skilled Worker route, so a mechanical engineering job at a licensed sponsor can support an application when the salary meets the applicable requirement and the other rules are met. Whether a specific employer sponsors is their decision.
What SOC code covers mechanical engineers?
SOC 2020 code 2122, "Mechanical engineers". The published related titles include mechanical design engineers, automotive engineers and marine engineers and naval architects.
What salary does a mechanical engineer need for a Skilled Worker visa?
Normally the higher of the general threshold (£41,700) and the occupation going rate. For code 2122 the published standard going rate is £46,800. A qualifying new entrant may instead be assessed against the 70% column of £33,400, subject to the new-entrant general threshold of £33,400 and all other requirements. A separate transitional rate of £38,400 applies only in specific circumstances. Check the current figures on GOV.UK.
Do defence and nuclear mechanical engineering jobs accept international graduates?
Many of those roles require UK security clearance, which usually depends on a period of UK residence, and some are restricted by export-control rules. Adverts normally state this. Commercial manufacturing, automotive, energy and building services roles rarely carry such restrictions.
Which CAD software should a graduate mechanical engineer know?
One mainstream parametric package in depth — SolidWorks, NX, CATIA or Creo — plus evidence you can produce production drawings. Sector matters: CATIA and NX dominate aerospace and automotive, SolidWorks is common in SMEs, and Revit MEP leads in building services.
Which UK employers hire graduate mechanical engineers?
Aerospace and automotive manufacturers and their supply chains, defence contractors, energy and nuclear operators, building services consultancies and a very large number of manufacturing SMEs. Appearance on the sponsor register does not mean a given vacancy is sponsored.