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Mechanical Engineer In Training Jobs in Virginia

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a Mechanical Engineer in our Virginia Beach, VA office. We currently have numerous design and inspection assignments for transportation infrastructure ...

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a Mechanical Engineer in our Virginia Beach, VA office. We currently have numerous design and inspection assignments for transportation infrastructure ...

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a Mechanical Engineer in our Virginia Beach, VA office. We currently have numerous design and inspection assignments for transportation infrastructure ...

In this position, you will provide technical expertise in the areas of maritime, launcher, missile ... You will also perform mechanical engineering analysis and design, utilize mechanical engineering ...

This position will be located in our Newport News, VA or Richmond, VA offices . As a Mechanical ... Professional Development - Access to ongoing training and development opportunities to build your ...

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Showing results 1-20

Mechanical Engineer In Training information

See Virginia salary details

$45.1K

$102K

$165.1K

How much do mechanical engineer in training jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for mechanical engineer in training in Virginia is $101,996.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,800.00 and $125,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a Mechanical Engineer In Training expect during their first year on the job?

As a Mechanical Engineer In Training, you can expect to work on a variety of tasks such as assisting with CAD modeling, preparing technical documentation, conducting basic analyses, and supporting senior engineers with design and prototyping projects. You’ll likely collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, attend site visits, and participate in meetings to understand project requirements. This hands-on exposure helps you build foundational skills and gradually take on more complex responsibilities under supervision, positioning you for professional licensure and career advancement.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

While most mechanical engineers earn significantly less, some specialized or senior-level engineers in high-demand industries such as aerospace, oil and gas, or executive roles can reach or exceed $500,000 annually, often through bonuses, profit sharing, or stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership responsibilities.

What is a Mechanical Engineer In Training?

A Mechanical Engineer In Training (EIT) is an entry-level engineer who has completed a degree in mechanical engineering and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. EITs work under the supervision of licensed professional engineers to gain practical experience required for licensure. Their responsibilities often include assisting with design, analysis, testing, and project documentation. This role is an important step towards becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE).

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Highly experienced engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with advanced skills, leadership roles, or working in high-demand industries. Senior positions often require extensive experience, advanced degrees, and certifications, and compensation may include bonuses and stock options.

Is there on-the-job training for mechanical engineers?

Mechanical engineers in training often receive on-the-job training that includes learning company-specific procedures, software tools, and safety protocols. This training typically occurs during internships, entry-level positions, or through mentorship programs to develop practical skills alongside formal education.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Mechanical Engineer In Training, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Mechanical Engineer In Training, you need a solid understanding of engineering fundamentals, problem-solving abilities, and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with CAD software, engineering simulation tools, and basic project management systems is typically expected, and pursuing an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification is advantageous. Strong communication, teamwork, and a willingness to learn set standout candidates apart. These skills and qualifications are crucial for applying engineering principles effectively, collaborating on projects, and progressing toward professional licensure.

Do mechanical engineers need EIT?

Mechanical Engineer In Training (EIT) is an entry-level certification that demonstrates foundational engineering knowledge. While not always mandatory, obtaining the EIT is a common step toward licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE), which may be required for certain advanced roles or responsibilities in the field.

What is the difference between Mechanical Engineer In Training vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectMechanical Engineer In TrainingMechanical Engineer
CredentialsTypically holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering; eligible for EIT certificationRequires a bachelor's degree; licensed Professional Engineer (PE) often pursued
Work EnvironmentEntry-level roles in design, testing, or manufacturingMore advanced responsibilities, project management, and design
Employer & Industry UsageUsed during early career stages; common in engineering firms and manufacturingFull licensed engineers; involved in client projects and approvals

The main difference is that a Mechanical Engineer In Training is an entry-level professional working towards licensure, while a Mechanical Engineer typically has obtained a PE license and takes on more complex responsibilities. The EIT designation is a stepping stone in the engineering career path.

What are popular job titles related to Mechanical Engineer In Training jobs in Virginia? For Mechanical Engineer In Training jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Mechanical Engineer In Training jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Mechanical Engineer In Training job openings:
Infographic showing various Mechanical Engineer In Training job openings in Virginia as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, and 12% Part Time. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,996 per year, or $49 per hour.
Lead Mechanical Engineer with Security Clearance

Lead Mechanical Engineer with Security Clearance

Department of the Army

Fort Belvoir, VA • On-site

$125K - $151K/yr

Other

PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


United States Army rating

5.9

Company rating: 5.9 out of 10

Based on 468 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

42nd of 46 rated military and defense


Job description

Duties * Serves as Lead Mechanical Engineer on an inter-related team of engineers/architects engaged in construction, design and review for for the Directorate of Public Works. * As a Mechanical Engineer, the employee is principally concerned with mechanical equipment and utility systems to include heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), central steam, refrigeration, and sewage treatment plants. * Responsibilities also include steam, water, gas and electrical distribution systems; and all types of mechanical, plumbing, kitchen, food storage, and energy conservation systems and equipment.

* Serves as project manager for a specified number of mechanical engineering projects to be designed and constructed annually. Requirements Conditions of employment * Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. * Must possess and maintain a valid state Driver's License in one of the 50 U.S.

states or possessions to operate vehicles. * Contracting Officer Representative (COR) certification is required. Must be able to obtain Contracting Officer Representative certification within 4 months of start date.

* This position requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. * Financial Disclosure Statement OGE Form 450 is used to assist agencies and employees to avoid conflicts between duties and financial interest. * This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 5% of the time.

* Appointment to this position is subject to a one year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 11. Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is .

Basic Requirement for Lead Mechanical Engineer: A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); OR (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR B. Combination of Education and Experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1.

Professional registration or licensure - Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, or any other written test required for professional registration, by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. 3.

Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in A above. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program. 4.

Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes preparing plans, details, specifications, design criteria, and/or cost estimates for projects such as new installation, rehabilitation and/or alteration of air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation and/or heating systems; reviewing engineering drawings prior to installation to ensure compliance with specifications; providing technical advice/consultation on all mechanical phases of utility systems; preparing documentation for construction contracts.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12). Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S.

accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Additional information * Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. * You will be required to provide proof of U.S.

Citizenship. * This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service.

Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest. * Direct Deposit of Pay is required. * This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter.

* Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. * If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the information sheet. * This is a(n) Engineers and Scientists (Non-Construction) Career Field position.

* Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. * Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. * When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable.

Visit for more information. * Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. * Relocation/Recruitment incentive may be authorized.

* Student Loan Repayment may be authorized. * Salary Negotiations for those candidates who are new to Federal service may be authorized. * Credit for Prior Non-Federal Work Experience and Certain Military Service for Determining Annual Leave Accrual Rate may be authorized.


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Industry

National security, health care and social assistance, national security and international affairs and public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Arlington, VA, US

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