The course of Mechanical Engineering at UFBA was created in 1968 through the Decree nº 76376 of 32/10.1995, and recognized through the Resolution nº 48 of 27/04/1976. The course, with 31 years of existance, has graduated up to 1100 mechanical Engineers only in the semester of 2000.

The undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from UFBA was created with the purpose to train qualified professionals to work in different areas of the industry, ie, professionals that able to design, optimize, specify, install and maintain equipment and machines with an emphasis on industry petroleum and petrochemical. At the same time, this professional would also be provided with other skills such as management, human relations, economic, besides those related to work safety and the environment.

At the end of the 70s, the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex was installed in Bahia, and UFBA offered from 1976 to 1990, in partnership with Petrobras / Petroquisa, a course of complementary graduation in mechanical engineering, called Course of Mechanical Maintenance Engineering (CEMANT) involving students of the North / Northeast of Brazil.

Today, the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, located 40 km from Salvador, can be considered the largest labor market for mechanical engineers trained by UFBA.

The main activities developed by a professional Mechanical Engineering include design and specification, manufacturing, industrial assembly, maintenance facilities, management and planning, research and development. In general, mechanical engineers working in the following areas: