Government Exams for Mechanical Engineers: Selection Process & Job Prospects

Today, plenty of government jobs for Mechanical Engineers are available in India. IRS, CGL, SSE and Nuclear Power Engineer, among others, are some of the top posts that Mechanical Engineers can grab at government and government-aided organisations.

However, to land a promising government job as a Mechanical Engineer, individuals are often required to qualify for several national and state-level entrance tests, including UPSC, GATE, UGC NET and more. These tests include a written test, followed by an interview and document verification.

Thus, individuals willing to build a promising career must check the list of govt. jobs available in India for mechanical engineers and the qualifying exams required to take a step towards landing one. Look no further than this article, where job aspirants will get detailed information on top government jobs, selection process, eligibility and more.

List of Government Jobs for Mechanical Engineers in India

Looking for a government job for mechanical engineering students in India? Here’s the list of positions and jobs available at central, state and PSU organizations that candidates can apply for: 

Central Government Jobs

There are various central government jobs for mechanical engineers conducted by organizations like UPSC, Indian Railways, DRDO, ISRO, and other ministries. Some of the key roles include the following:

1. Indian Engineering Services (IES): Conducted by UPSC, offering prestigious roles in government departments.

• Key Positions: Assistant Executive Engineer, Assistant Naval Stores Officer, Instrumentation and Control Engineer, CAD Technician
• Vacancies: 20 (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 45,000 to INR 60,000 per month depending on the Grade of the individual.

2. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO): Engages mechanical engineers in research and development projects.

• Key Positions: Junior Research Fellow, Propulsion Systems Scientist, Mechanical Design Scientist, Robotics Scientist
• Vacancies: 25 vacancies for Mechanical Engineers (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 56,100 to INR 1.77 Lakh per annum, depending on experience and position.

3. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): Offers roles in spacecraft design, propulsion, and structural analysis.

• Key Positions: Technical Assistant Sound Recording, Radiographer, Social Research Officer, Technical Assistant Videography
• Vacancies: 38 (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 28,000 to INR 93,000 per month, depending on experience and position

4. Indian Railways (RRB JE & SSE): Mechanical engineers can work as Junior Engineers (JE) or Senior Section Engineers (SSE).

• Key Positions: Project Interface Manager, Embedded Systems Engineer, and Engineering Technical Leader
• Vacancies: 1,145 vacancies (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 2 Lakh to INR 8 Lakh per annum, depending on experience and position

5. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL): Provides roles in power plant equipment design and manufacturing.

• Key Positions: Engineer Trainee, Supervisor Trainee, Senior Engineer- Embedded FPGA Design, Site Lead For Steam Turbine Service Outages
• Vacancies: 420 vacancies (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 11.5 to INR 12.5 Lakh per year, depending on experience and position.

State Government Jobs

Each state government recruits mechanical engineers for various departments and public sector enterprises. Common opportunities include:

1. State Public Works Department (PWD): Mechanical engineers are required for infrastructure and construction projects.

• Key Positions: Mechanical Design Engineer, Mechatronics Engineer, Supplier Quality Engineer, R&D Engineer
• Vacancies: N/A
• Salary Prospects: INR 4.1 Lakh to INR 5.2 Lakh per year, depending on experience and position.

2. State Electricity Boards: Engineers are employed for power generation and distribution projects.

• Key Positions: Assistant Mechanical Engineer, Energy Engineer, Junior Mechanical Engineer, CAD Technician
• Vacancies: N/A
• Salary Prospects: INR 1.5 Lakh to INR 6.3 Lakh per year, depending upon experience and position.

3. Transport Departments: Roles related to vehicle maintenance, design, and safety.

• Key Positions: Mining Surveyor in Coal Over Burden, Electro-Mechanical Maintenance Manager, Maintenance Leader, Warehouse Managers
• Vacancies: N/A
• Salary Prospects: INR 1.6 Lakh to INR 8 Lakh

4. Water Resource Departments: Mechanical engineers contribute to irrigation and dam projects.

• Key Positions: Assistant Engineer; Engineer, Water, REC; Senior Engineer - Water Resources, Principal Hydraulic Modelling Engineer
• Vacancies: N/A
• Salary Prospects: INR 4.00 Lakh to INR 10.70 Lakh per annum

Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)

PSUs offer some of the most sought-after jobs for mechanical engineers, often through GATE scores or direct recruitment. Some major PSU Recruitments Through GATE 2025 are as follows:

1. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC): ONGC offers roles in offshore and onshore drilling operations.

• Key Positions: Assistant Executive Engineer Drilling, Assistant Executive Engineer, Equipment Engineer, Maintenance Engineer
• Vacancies: 82 (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 3.6 Lakh to INR 14.00 Lakh per annum

2. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC): Involves work in thermal power plants.

• Key Positions: Engineering Executive Trainee, Mechanical Design Engineer, and Mechanical Project Engineer
• Vacancies: 180 vacancies (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 1.5 Lakh to INR 11.15 Lakh per annum, depending on experience and position.

3. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL): It offers roles in steel plant operations and maintenance.

• Key Positions: Management Trainee (Technical)
• Vacancies: 249 (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 2.4 Lakh to INR 8.5 Lakh per year

4. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL): Provides opportunities in aircraft design and maintenance.

• Key Positions: Management Trainee (Technical), Assistant Engineer,
• Vacancies: 125 (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 16,400 to INR 40,500 per month

5. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL): Involves roles in refining, distribution, and pipeline operations.

• Key Positions: Assistant Engineer (Mechanical), Engineer (Production), Engineer (Maintenance), Project Engineer, Design Engineer, Senior Engineer (Operations), and Graduate Apprentice Engineer (GAE).
• Vacancies: 97 (tentative)
• Salary Prospects: INR 6 Lakh to INR 10 Lakh per annum

Top Government Exams for Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical Engineering students can appear for a wide range of government exams depending on their career goals and interests. 

1. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

The GATE exam is conducted by IITs and IISc colleges and is considered as one of the most prestigious and widely attempted exams for engineering students. The GATE exam opens the doors to various PSU sectors, such as BHEL, ONGC, GAIL, and others. The Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are the most sought-after govt jobs for mechanical engineers as they consider the GATE score as the primary mode of recruitment.

List of PSUs Hiring through GATE
Some of the top PSUs hiring mechanical engineering candidates based on GATE scores are as follows. The eligibility for these posts is B.E./ B.Tech while the GATE paper to be attempted is Mechanical Engineering (ME).

2. Engineering Services Examination (ESE)

The Indian Engineering Services is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Mechanical Engineers can easily join sectors such as Railways, Power, and Telecommunications under it and tend to contribute to the development and management of India’s infrastructure and technology. A candidate needs to have B.E./ B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering to apply. Candidates in their last year can also apply for the same.

Different Services and Posts in the Government Sector are:

• Indian Railway Service (Mechanical Engineers)
• Indian Ordnance Factories Service
• Indian Telecommunication Service
• Central Engineering Services (CES)
• Power Engineering Services
• Defence Services (Mechanical Engineers)

3. State Engineering Services Exams

The SES exams are conducted by various State PCS organizations and are an excellent opportunity of government jobs for mechanical engineers in India. The SES Jobs for Mechanical Enigneers includes posts in state-level departments such as Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation, Water Supply, Public Health, Roads and Highways, Power Departments.

The exam is held in three stages: Preliminary (Objective Type Questions), Mains (Descriptive Questions), and Interview. Some of the well-known organizations conducting government jobs for mechanical engineers UPPSC, BPSC, JPSC, MPPSC, OPSC, etc.

4. Other Competitive Exams (UPSC, SSC, RRB, etc.)

Apart from GATE, PSUs, and PCS exams, there are various other government jobs for mechanical engineering students that thye can try their hands on. Candidates can shortlist them based on their interest and future goals. Find the list of various competitive govt exams for mechanical engineering students in the table below.

Preparation Strategy for Government Exams

The preparation of government exams for mechanical engineers needs the candidates to be more diligent and dedicated as the syllabus includes technical subjects. Following a structured approach towards it is of utmost importance. Some of the best govt exam preparation strategies for mechanical engineers are shared below for better reference.

1. Exam-Specific Approach- One needs to have an exam-specific approach targeting whether they shall be attempting GATE, ESE, SES, or any other competitive examination. Focus on conceptual problems and standard formulas in the core mechanical paper.
2. Mark the Exam Pattern and Syllabus- After targeting the exam, go through the detailed syllabus and exam pattern. Understanding the exam pattern is important to calculate the weightage of the sections included.
3. Devise a Weekly Plan- Since the syllabus for technical subjects is vast, it is recommended that the candidates strategize their entire preparation plan. Divide the days as per your catch in the sections and topics.
4. Refer to Previous Year Papers- Previous Question Papers play an important role as they provide insight into the paper pattern and the difficulty level of each section. Candidates are thus advised to go through at least 10-12 years of past papers for better reference.

The list of best government jobs for mechanical engineers in India has been shared above. Applicants are advised to prepare for the posts accordingly.