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Machinist mate skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Miles Free

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical machinist mate skills. We ranked the top skills for machinist mates based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.4% of machinist mate resumes contained auxiliary machinery as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a machinist mate needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 machinist mate skills for your resume and career

1. Auxiliary Machinery

Here's how machinist mates use auxiliary machinery:

Maintained high speed turbine engines and auxiliary machinery - Directed and performed preventative maintenance on machines to ensure maximum proficiency.
Provided calibration support for auxiliary machinery ranging from centrifugal chillers and air compressors to pumps and hydraulic lifts.

2. Air Compressors

An air compressor is a power tool used to convert power into potential energy, which is generally stored in the form of compressed air. Air compressors have several methods of pushing more air into a cylinder, thereby increasing the pressure. The compressor stops when the pressure reaches its upper limit and remains in the tank until demand occurs.

Here's how machinist mates use air compressors:

Perform organizational and intermediate level maintenance on shipboard air compressors, refrigeration units, fresh water production units.
Operated rigging equipment, steam turbines, hydraulic systems, distilling plants, pumps, air compressors, and air conditioners.

3. Engine Room

An engine room serves as the heart of an establishment or vessel. It must be maintained in good and working conditions to ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently according to guidelines and protocols.

Here's how machinist mates use engine room:

Shifted and operated engine room equipment to support maintenance efforts; maintained clean maintenance conditions in accordance with quality assurance procedures.
Operated propulsion plant machinery on a nuclear powered submarine * Conducted preventative and corrective maintenance on the machinery in the engine room

4. Preventive Maintenance

Here's how machinist mates use preventive maintenance:

Planned and supervised the completion of preventive maintenance on 250 items Updated enlisted service records to verify their advancement qualification eligibility.
Assigned duties as Catapult Steam Plant Supervisor, Preventive Maintenance Coordinator, Supply Coordinator and Hazardous Material/Waste Manager.

5. Auxiliary Equipment

Auxiliary Equipment will differ depending on the work environment, but it is often recognized as machinery that promotes efficiency within a company. Auxiliary equipment can complete work without employee input or direct communication. This equipment can range from something as simple as conveyor belts and bulk storage to more complex machines that assist with oil extraction.

Here's how machinist mates use auxiliary equipment:

Performed the theory of operation, organizational level maintenance, basic repair procedures, and normal operation of submarine auxiliary equipment.
Advanced through increasingly responsible positions in submarine auxiliary equipment operation, maintenance, quality assurance, and safety.

6. Corrective Maintenance

Here's how machinist mates use corrective maintenance:

Assigned daily tasks for 20 technicians for completion of preventative and corrective maintenance to keep all mechanical machinery operational.
Managed and trained subordinates through flawless preventative and corrective maintenance which enabled fleet ships to meet their operational commitments.

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7. Heat Exchangers

A heat exchanger is used to transfer heat from one medium to another. The heat exchanger is used in both the heating and cooling process.

Here's how machinist mates use heat exchangers:

Repaired or replaced valves, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers and control devices used with diesel engines and gas turbines.
Preformed general mechanical repairs involving valves, pumps, heat exchangers, compressors, steam turbines, hydraulic and pneumatic devices.

8. Diesel Engines

Diesel engines use an internal combustion technique that burns diesel oil in hot compressed air to propel a machine.

Here's how machinist mates use diesel engines:

Performed preventive, organizational/ intermediate level maintenance on submarine diesel engines, and sub-components.
Assist in the repair and operation of diesel engines and hydraulic pumps for the operation ship's steering and propulsion system.

9. Relief Valves

Here's how machinist mates use relief valves:

Overhauled repaired & tested relief valves, pneumatic operated valves & high-pressure valves within specifications outlined in the maintenance package.
Performed various reactor plant tests on systems to include primary plant relief valves and reactor fill system.

10. Mechanical Systems

Here's how machinist mates use mechanical systems:

Supervised and trained 10 personnel on troubleshooting and maintaining mechanical systems-Planned and coordinated maintenance program to guarantee 100% was accomplished weekly
Established over 4 years of increasing responsibility in operating, and maintaining mechanical systems associated with nuclear power plants.

11. Steam Plant

Here's how machinist mates use steam plant:

Supervised 20 people in industrial steam plant operations ensuring Auxiliary Steam and oily waste equipment was operational.
Supervised personnel in monitoring and repairing steam plant equipment aboard ship.

12. Hydraulic Systems

Here's how machinist mates use hydraulic systems:

Maintained hydraulic systems and performed repairs or replacements to mechanical and electrical components.
Acquired classroom and hands-on laboratory instruction on basic mechanical equipment and hydraulic systems.

13. Potable Water

Here's how machinist mates use potable water:

Qualified for engineering watches including Cold iron, Potable water, evaporator, generator, water king and engineering top watch.
Operated turbo generators, potable water systems, evaporator (distilling plant), centrifugal L/O pump and strainers, etc.

14. Blowers

Here's how machinist mates use blowers:

Maintained refrigerating and air conditioning plants, ventilating blowers, pumps, and machine shop equipment.
Disassembled pumps, force draft blowers, valves and piping in boiler room to preform maintenance.

15. PSI

Here's how machinist mates use psi:

Operated, maintained and repaired one Todd, 600 psi, D-type boiler, its pumps, turbines and associated equipment.
Coordinated daily operation and maintenance, of various types of boilers operating under pressure's from 150 to 1200 psi.

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What skills help Machinist Mates find jobs?

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What type of skills will young machinist mates need?

Miles Free

Director, Industry Affairs, Precision Machined Products Association

Skills are essential, but most of our precision machining shops hire for attitude. We will help reliable candidates develop the skills that they need. If we look at employers having wants and needs: want - someone that knows their software. Needs - someone that knows how to adjust code; we'll teach them our software. Wants - excellent math skills. Requires the ability to do high school algebra, geometry, and trig.

Needs - people that can communicate an issue verbally and in writing.
That's where we see it. Critical thinking, ability to understand problems and their potential causes, ability to work well with others, without this, even a super-competent technically skilled person will probably find themselves changing jobs many times.

Do you want to know more?

List of machinist mate skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a machinist mate resume and required skills for a machinist mate to have include:

Auxiliary Machinery
Air Compressors
Engine Room
Preventive Maintenance
Auxiliary Equipment
Corrective Maintenance
Heat Exchangers
Diesel Engines
Relief Valves
Mechanical Systems
Steam Plant
Hydraulic Systems
Potable Water
Blowers
PSI
Nuclear Power

Mechanical Equipment
USS
Fresh Water
Hazardous Materials
Air Systems
Water Systems
Condensers
HVAC
Hazmat
Turbine Generators
Pneumatic Systems
Reactor Plant
Naval Nuclear
Laundry Equipment
Firefighting
Routine Maintenance

Refrigeration Systems
Nuclear Reactor
Test Equipment
QA
Technical Manuals
Evaporators
Steam Turbine
Nuclear Propulsion Plant
Turbo Generators
Lube Oil
Carbon Steel
Auxiliary Systems
Hoists
Damage Control Equipment
Distillation

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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