Sheet metal is frequently used in construction to create ductwork, paneling, and even roofing sections. A sheet metal mechanic is someone who can make parts out of sheet metal and is responsible for installing or repairing them. The sheet metal mechanic may have specific training in various types of sheet metal fabrication and installation, or his or her training may be more general and include fabricating any type of sheet metal component. To be hired for such a position, no specific level of education is required, though most mechanics have completed at least a high school education or equivalent qualification.
Many of the skills required for success in this position can be learned in high school shop classes, but to become a sheet metal mechanic, the candidate will most likely need to complete an apprenticeship or on-the-job training after graduation. Employers may hire candidates with little or no experience and then provide training to help them become sheet metal mechanics, but a candidate can also improve his or her chances of landing an apprenticeship by learning as much as possible about sheet metal mechanics on their own.
After completing their training, sheet metal mechanics can work in a variety of construction and manufacturing environments. He or she could even work in the aerospace industry; for example, a sheet metal mechanic could work in a factory that makes planes or even spacecraft. Applications in shipbuilding and the automobile industry are both possible. A metal fabricator can also work in a broader sense, contributing his or her skills to a variety of fields and industries. The mechanic may complete tasks that require sheet metal manipulation or fabrication in construction settings, such as installing complex ductwork in a building, installing certain types of roofing, walls, and flooring, or completing other tasks that require sheet metal manipulation or fabrication.
Most sheet metal mechanic jobs will require basic to moderate math and reading skills, as well as the ability to read schematics or blueprints. The mechanic may need to be trained in the use of computer aided drafting, or CAD, and he or she may need to be able to take direction. Because many of the machines he or she will use are based on CNC platforms, the mechanic will typically require training in CNC processes and machine work.