Unit Group (L4) β€’ 2152

2152 β€” Mechanical Engineers and Technologists

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L4 CODE: 2152
2 PROFESSIONALS β†’ 21 Science and Engineering Professionals β†’ 215 Engineering Professionals (Excluding Electro technology)
Summary
Mechanical Engineers and Technologists (KeSCO 2152) supports outcomes in the Science, Engineering & Built Environment sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Minimum entry
Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
Future outlook
Future trends such as digital transformation, automation, climate resilience, and changing consumer needs are shaping most occupations. Workers who continuously upskill (digital literacy, quality standards, safety, customer service, and modern tools) are more resilient and competitive.
Sectors
Science, Engineering & Built EnvironmentProfessional ServicesPublic SectorPrivate SectorNGO/DevelopmentSpecialised Practice
Description
Mechanical Engineers and Technologists (KeSCO 2152) supports outcomes in the Science, Engineering & Built Environment sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Employment prospects
Prospects depend on national and county demand, sector investment, policy priorities, and supply of trained workers. Job seekers improve prospects by gaining practical experience, building a portfolio or track record, earning relevant certifications, and being flexible on location and sub-sector.
Tasks
  • Plan and prioritise daily work activities to meet targets and deadlines
  • Follow workplace procedures, standards, and relevant regulations
  • Carry out core job duties accurately and safely
  • Use job tools/equipment/software correctly and maintain them appropriately
  • Communicate progress, issues, and requirements with supervisors and colleagues
  • Serve clients/customers professionally and resolve routine queries
  • Document work completed, maintain records, and submit routine reports
  • Identify errors, risks, or service gaps and propose improvements
  • Work as part of a team and coordinate tasks across units
  • Maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct where required
  • Comply with occupational safety and health (OSH) guidelines
  • Participate in training, mentoring, or continuous improvement activities
Skills
Communication (verbal and written) | Teamwork and collaboration | Problem-solving and critical thinking | Time management and prioritisation | Attention to detail and accuracy | Customer service orientation | Integrity and ethical conduct | Adaptability and continuous learning | Decision-making and judgement | Documentation and record-keeping | Digital literacy (basic) | Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Core skills
  • Communication (verbal and written)
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking
  • Time management and prioritisation
  • Attention to detail and accuracy
  • Customer service orientation
  • Integrity and ethical conduct
  • Adaptability and continuous learning
  • Decision-making and judgement
  • Documentation and record-keeping
  • Digital literacy (basic)
  • Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Technical skills
  • Use of hand and power tools safely
  • Installation, maintenance, and repair procedures
  • Reading drawings/specifications and measurements
  • Troubleshooting and fault diagnosis
  • Quality control and workmanship standards
  • Equipment handling and preventive maintenance
  • Workplace safety and PPE usage
  • Basic electrical/mechanical principles (as relevant)
  • Material handling and storage
  • Site readiness and task planning
  • Compliance with standards and inspections
Transferable skills
  • Leadership and supervision (as one progresses)
  • Negotiation and stakeholder management
  • Conflict resolution
  • Presentation and public speaking
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Planning and organisation
  • Resilience and stress management
  • Service mindset and empathy
  • Networking and relationship building
  • Analytical thinking
  • Professionalism and work discipline
Certifications
  • Trade test / competency certification (where applicable)
  • Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) certification (strongly recommended)
  • Equipment-specific operator certification (where applicable)
  • First Aid certification (recommended in many workplaces)
Education
Specialised degree in the relevant discipline | Graduate internship/attachments where applicable | Professional registration/licensing where regulated | Experience-based progression into senior/specialist roles
Pathways
  • Specialised degree in the relevant discipline
  • Graduate internship/attachments where applicable
  • Professional registration/licensing where regulated
  • Experience-based progression into senior/specialist roles
Relevant courses
  • Diploma/Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering
  • Diploma/Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
  • Civil/Construction Technology
  • Welding and Fabrication
  • Plumbing and Pipefitting
  • Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
  • Automotive Mechanics
  • Plant/Machine Operation
  • Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
  • CAD/Draughting basics
Institutions
  • Universities (accredited public and private universities offering relevant programmes)
  • National Polytechnics and TVET institutions (diploma, certificate, artisan programmes)
  • Technical Training Institutes and Vocational Centres
  • Professional Colleges and Accredited Training Academies
  • Sector Training Authorities and Recognised Centres of Excellence
  • Employer-based Academies and Apprenticeship Programmes
  • Online Learning Platforms (supplementary; verify recognition for regulated fields)
  • Industry Associations and Professional Bodies (short courses/CPD)
Minimum requirements
  • Minimum education: Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
  • Basic literacy and numeracy (reading, writing, and basic calculations)
  • Good conduct, reliability, and professional behaviour
  • Ability to follow instructions, procedures, and workplace rules
  • Basic digital literacy where the role uses computers/phones
  • Physical/medical fitness where the role is physically demanding or safety-sensitive
  • Regulatory registration/licensing where required (profession-dependent)
  • Background checks/clearance for sensitive roles where applicable
Work context
Workplace policies | Team collaboration | Quality standards | Professional environment | Standards compliance | Reporting
Where they work
  • Public sector institutions, private companies, NGOs and community-based organisations depending on the sector.
Work setting
Not specified.
Schedule
Full-time commonDaytime hours commonDeadlines possible
Employment type
Formal employment possible
Earnings
Entry level
KES 50,000 – 120,000
Mid level
KES 120,000 – 250,000
Senior level
KES 250,000+
Entry-level typical range (illustrative): KES 50,000 – 120,000 | Mid-level typical range (illustrative): KES 120,000 – 250,000 | Senior/experienced typical range (illustrative): KES 250,000+ | Earnings vary by employer (public/private), location, allowances, commissions, overtime, risk factors, and scarcity of skills
How to become one
Complete a degree in the relevant discipline, undertake internships or graduate programmes and meet any professional registration or licensing requirements.
Career progression
  • Entry/Intern β†’ Junior Practitioner β†’ Mid-level β†’ Senior Specialist
  • Senior Specialist β†’ Team Lead/Principal β†’ Manager/Head of Unit (where applicable)
  • Some pathways include consultancy, research, training, or policy roles
Related occupations
  • Other occupations within the same KeSCO major group
  • Support roles in the same sector/industry
  • Supervisory roles related to this occupation’s work area
  • Specialist variants of the same occupation (where they exist)
Occupation titles
2152-26 β€” Agricultural Engineer
Agricultural Engineer is responsible for design and build agricultural infrastructure such as dams, water reservoirs, warehouses, and other structures; help in engineer solutions for pollution control at large farms; develop new forms of biofuels from non food resources like algae and agricultural waste within their professional field.
2152-34 β€” Architect Naval
Architect Naval is responsible for study and design of ships and other marine vessels; build and test scale models and prototypes of ships create vessels that are safe, efficient, and seaworthy; examine, test and diagnose problems and maintain ships design, construct, refit and repair marine vessels and offshore structures within their professional field.
2152-32 β€” Automotive Engineer
Automotive Engineer is responsible for design, develop, manufacture and test; distribution, marketing, sales and after sales care of automobiles and others commercial vehicles within their professional field.
2152-35 β€” Engine designer
Engine designer is responsible for plan and design tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment; oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems; design mechanical equipment such as machines and all types of engines supervise engine installation and maintenance within their professional field.
2152-11 β€” Engineer
Engineer is responsible for conduct research, design, and supervise production and installation of machines, machinery and industrial plants, equipment and systems; develop guidelines on their functioning, maintenance and repairs, as well as study and advice on technological aspects of particular materials, products or processes within their professional field.
2152-14 β€” Engineer Machinery/Industrial
Engineer Machinery/Industrial is responsible for advise on and design machinery and tools for manufacturing, mining, construction, agricultural, and other industrial purposes; advise on and design steam, internal combustion and other non electric motors and engines used for propulsion of railway locomotives design various machines like generators and engines, design power producing machines, such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines, design other machines inside buildings, such as elevators and escalators; design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices within their professional field.
2152-15 β€” Engineer Process design
Engineer Process design is responsible for advise on and design non electrical parts of apparatus or products such as word processors, computers, precision instruments, cameras and projectors; establishing control standards and procedures to ensure efficient functioning and safety of machines, machinery, tools, motors, engines, industrial plant, equipment, or systems; ensuring that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards and implement standard operating procedures within their professional field.
2152-16 β€” Engineer Prototyping
Engineer Prototyping is responsible for design requirements, order material and supplies to support prototype builds, and orders raw material to build prototype parts; designs prototypes for new kinds of industrial products; drawing up schematics and blueprints, overseeing the production of prototypes, and testing those prototypes within their professional field.
2152-12 β€” Engineer, drainage and irrigation
Engineer, drainage and irrigation is responsible for designing systems that move water or sewage from one place to another, as safely and efficiently as possible; organizing, planning, and maintaining irrigation systems for the transportation and distribution of water to residential and agricultural locations; analyze existing site surveys, conduct research and identify potential structural and environmental problems within their professional field.
2152-13 β€” Engineer, refrigeration
Engineer, refrigeration is responsible for design, install, repair and maintain refrigeration equipment in industrial and commercial buildings plan and design, install, test, commission, report, maintain, fault find and repair systems to a high standard within their professional field.
2152-27 β€” Heating, Ventilation and Refrigeration Engineer.
Heating, Ventilation and Refrigeration Engineer. is responsible for install ductwork and ventilation systems; fit central heating systems in homes; design and install control panels that operate and adjust heating within their professional field.
2152-33 β€” Industrial Machinery & Tools Engineer
Industrial Machinery & Tools Engineer is responsible for production planning and control; inventory, equipment, warehouse, and materials management; and job and work station design within their professional field.
2152-28 β€” Marine Engineer
Marine Engineer is responsible for build and repair ships, boats and onboard systems; design, build and operate offshore gas and oil platforms; do marine surveys and make sure engines, instruments and systems work safely within their professional field.
2152-17 β€” Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineer is responsible for conduct research, design, and supervise production and installation of machines, machinery and industrial plants, equipment and systems; design, develop, build, and test all sorts of mechanical devices, tools, engines and machines; develop guidelines on their functioning, maintenance and repairs, study and advice on technological aspects of particular materials, products or processes within their professional field.
2152-18 β€” Mechanical Engineer (Motors & Engines)
Mechanical Engineer (Motors & Engines) is responsible for design, develop, build, and test all sorts of mechanical devices, tools, engines, and machines; design power producing machines, such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines, as well as power using machines develop products and systems design machines and other solutions to solve mechanical problems and challenges within their professional field.
2152-25 β€” Mechanical Engineer maintenance
Mechanical Engineer maintenance is responsible for check, repair and service machinery, equipment, systems and infrastructures; perform inspections of equipment to ensure that it is in good working order and that safety precautions are being followed conduct research on new technology or techniques that may be applied in the workplace maintain and repair machinery, equipment, and tools used in manufacturing processes perform preventive maintenance and repair work on machinery, equipment, tools, and other items used in manufacturing processes install and repair equipment such as motors, pumps, valves, and boilers evaluating possible causes of machinery failures and taking corrective action within their professional field.
2152-24 β€” Mechanical Engineer, Aeronautical
Mechanical Engineer, Aeronautical is responsible for design aircraft and propulsion systems and study the aerodynamic performance of aircraft and construction materials; design, maintain, and oversee the research and development of different types of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles; test prototypes to make sure that they function in accordance with their intended plan and original design within their professional field.
2152-21 β€” Mechanical Engineer, Mechatronics
Mechanical Engineer, Mechatronics is responsible for design the process which combines mechanical, computer, and electrical engineering along with systems integration and technical project management; assist in the design of robotic and intelligent equipment develop products and build prototypes assist engineering staff with the design and development of projects ranging from atms to large manufacturing plants manages electrical and mechanical systems tests and install new equipment work with smart technologies, within their professional field.
2152-22 β€” Mechanical Engineer, Plant
Mechanical Engineer, Plant is responsible for design and implement equipment modifications to help improve safety and reliability; inspect, design, install, or repair machinery and equipment to ensure it is well maintained, working safely and running smoothly investigating and testing ideas to improve existing systems or to overcome machinery problems; making parts and installing and testing machinery within their professional field.
2152-23 β€” Mechanical Engineer, Production
Mechanical Engineer, Production is responsible for supervise the manufacturing processes, ensuring quality work is done in a safe, efficient manner; diagnose problems in the production line and provide recommendations and training; establish safety procedures and protocols that take the workers' well being into account, and that also minimize the carbon footprint within their professional field.
2152-31 β€” Ship Construction Engineer
Ship Construction Engineer is responsible for install, operate, maintain and repair engines, machinery and other mechanical and electronic equipment aboard ships and offshore structures within their professional field.