text: mechanical engineering? what are the duties and responsibilities of mechanical engineers??? mechanical engineers have a lot of responsibilities and duties in a wide variety of fields.  they can serve in supervisory positions in manufacturing facilities to make sure that procedures are followed and parts are being manufactured to spec.  they also do a lot of design work, from designing the various parts of cars to coming up with new elastic waistbands for diapers.  in designing, they also do a lot of analysis, ensuring that parts don't fail before a specified life cycle or under certain loads.  i think of all the engineering disciplines, mes have the greatest breadth of work and responsibilites.