Engineer Resume Example & Writing Guide
- What should your engineer resume include?
- How can you create a professional summary?
- How should you describe your work experience on an engineer resume?
- Include a fitting engineer resume education and certifications section
- Which key skills are relevant for an engineering resume?
- How to select the most impactful engineer resume template
- Copyable engineer resume example
- Key takeaways for writing a engineer resume
Engineers design, build, and test new products, systems, and structures. Engineers apply their knowledge of mathematics, science, and practical experience to solve complex problems and challenges by way of creative solutions. Engineering consists of different areas of specialties, such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, and more. Engineers are creative and possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Engineers push the boundaries of science, solve complex technical problems, and enable advancements across multiple industries. As such, it’s an exciting career path to follow! Whatever engineering discipline you choose, you’re bound to have some competition when it comes to applying for a job. One way to stand out is via a top-notch resume.
This resume guide and engineer resume example will cover the following topics:
What should a engineer resume include
Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education)
Adding relevant key skills to your resume
Choosing the right resume template for your engineer resume
What should your engineer resume include?
When you’re applying for a job as an engineer, it’s important to show that you have the specific skills and experience required to thrive in the role. You'll want to display your strong technical, analytical, and project management skills and how you’ve applied these to add value in each of your roles. Any relevant education, certifications, and patents should be clear to see to boost your credibility.
Your engineer resume should contain the following elements:
The resume header with your contact information
The resume summary
The employment history section
The resume skills section
The education section
How can you create a professional summary?
The professional summary is your elevator pitch. Using the job description as your guide, highlight the skills and experience that makes you the perfect choice for the job opening. Including a “branding statement” at the beginning of your profile is a great way to pique the hiring manager's interest. This short, catchy statement (15 to 20 words) should outline the scope of your engineering expertise and the added value you can bring to the job opening.
Follow this with a short paragraph of three or four sentences that provides more specifics on your engineering career. This could include your experience in cutting-edge engineering project management, talent for driving continuous improvement, and ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams.
See our adaptable engineer resume summary below.
Visionary engineering leader with unique blend of technical and business acumen coupled with proven ability to direct on-shore and off-shore teams of multidisciplinary engineers. Career-long track record of inspiring teams to design, develop, and optimize innovative, marketable products for consumer goods, semiconductor, medical device, and other industries. Talent for devising creative solutions to complex design, manufacturing, and business challenges to deliver high-quality results, drive revenue, and achieve a competitive advantage.
How should you describe your work experience on an engineer resume?
Arguably the most important section on your resume is your work experience. Your goal is to show off your engineering expertise in a direct, concise, and impactful way. If you go into too much detail, you run the risk of the hiring manager experiencing information overload and potentially zoning out. Balance short paragraphs of core responsibilities, with bullet-pointed achievements, making sure to include details of your project wins as much as possible.
When outlining your key projects and achievements you don’t need to go into the weeds. Just provide a brief synopsis of your role in the project and the positive outcomes you achieved. Where possible include any quantifiable information as this really backs up the skills being put forward.
For example:
Championed continuous improvement and slashed Defective Rate of Return (DRR) for the multi-million-dollar product line by 50+% in fewer than 12 months.
Take a look at the adaptable engineer resume employment history section below.
Practice Manager, Consumer Products Practice, EASi (Subsidiary of Allegis Group, a $14B Company) Phoenix, AZ Jun 2017 - 2020
Conceptualized and led execution of sales, operations, and business strategy to position practice for sustainable growth.
Directed engineering group managers and program managers with indirect responsibility for leading globally dispersed team of engineers in the US and India.
Managed recruitment, staffing, separation, and performance evaluation.
Cultivated relationships with VPs, directors, and engineering managers at 60+ multinational and mid-level client accounts, leveraging insights to align solutions with specific client needs and maximize value.
Steered scheduling, milestone definition, execution, and delivery of 80+ client projects, dramatically growing revenue over three years with 900% growth among top three strategic accounts in previous 12-24 months.
Leveraged servant leadership approach to build high-caliber team, facilitate continual training and development, and create positive culture aligned with overall best practices.
Senior Project Engineer and Manager at Rain Bird Corporation, Tucson, AZ 2014 - 2017
Oversaw large-scale, multifaceted projects to streamline irrigation system product design and manufacturing processes, enabling company to meet evolving client needs and capture new business.
Instrumental to winning $15M+ deal from major client by managing largest equipment packaging project for Consumer Products Group.
Fully accountable for project and risk management, manufacturing plan, stage gate process, quality control, validation, financial justification, engineering drawings, packaging equipment installation, and artwork development.
Effectively motivated and led cross-functional project team, facilitating collaboration and supporting problem solving to remove obstacles, mitigate risks/issues, and ensure on-time completion.
Championed continuous improvement and slashed Defective Rate of Return (DRR) for multimillion-dollar product line by 50+% in fewer than 12 months.
Spearheaded optimization of multiple product lines in dynamic environment by automating, implementing, and replacing equipment, including baggers, torque wrenches, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), pneumatic cylinders, electric actuators, and solenoid valves.
Expert Tip
Avoid using too much technical jargon on your resume
When working in a specialized industry such as engineering, you’ll likely have a wealth of technical knowledge to include on your resume. However, overusing industry-specific jargon can have a negative effect, particularly if your resume is being screened by HR staff or recruiters who don’t have a technical background. Using the job description as your guide, focus on how your actions helped the organization rather than overdoing the technical jargon or acronyms.
Include a fitting engineer resume education and certifications section
Highlighting your degrees, credentials, and certifications the right way is vital on your engineer resume as recruiters will be looking to see that you’re suitably qualified for the job opening. Here’s some key areas to focus on:
List your education in reverse order with the highest degree first. Keep it short and sweet, detailing just the degree level, area of study, university name, and location. Highlight any honors and, if you’re a recent engineering graduate, any key projects.
Include any certifications or patents that have been filed or issued. This shows your commitment to professional development as well as your contributions to advancements in the engineering field. These credentials can really make you stand out from other candidates.
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (3.9 GPA; 50% complete), Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Which key skills are relevant for an engineering resume?
When deciding which skills to include on your resume, take a closer look at the engineer job listing so you understand what hiring managers want. Typically, these will be a blend of hard skills (industry-specific) and soft skills (problem-solving, attention to detail, communication etc.)
Sprinkle these keywords across the resume, incorporating keywords specific to each job opportunity in the areas of expertise section. This will ensure that the resume performs well not only when reviewed by a human, but also when parsed by applicant tracking systems many companies now use. (To learn more about conquering the ATS, check out our article on resume ATS optimization.)
Consider including the following skills:
Engineering management
Project & program management
Product development
Risk mitigation
Continuous improvement
Multidisciplinary team leadership
How to select the most impactful engineer resume template
The structure of your resume needs to be precise, polished, and professional—all qualities of a great engineer. Avoid any design-heavy resume formats as this can confuse application tracking systems and result in the information being parsed incorrectly. Stick to a clean and modern resume design with clear sections.
In terms of length, a one-page resume tends to be the norm for a recent engineering graduate and a two-page version for a more experienced engineer. If you find that your resume is just tipping over to three pages, then try to adjust margins, the header/footer, and any white space to achieve a two-page version.
When exploring our many resume templates in our resume builder, start by selecting the resume layout that fits your situation best. Find inspiration with our over 100 available resume examples.
Copyable engineer resume example
Summary example
Visionary engineering leader with unique blend of technical and business acumen coupled with proven ability to direct on-shore and off-shore teams of multidisciplinary engineers. Career-long track record of inspiring teams to design, develop, and optimize innovative, marketable products for consumer goods, semiconductor, medical device, and other industries. Talent for devising creative solutions to complex design, manufacturing, and business challenges to deliver high-quality results, drive revenue, and achieve a competitive advantage.
Employment history example
Practice Manager, Consumer Products Practice, EASi (Subsidiary of Allegis Group, a $14B Company) Phoenix, AZ Jun 2017 - Mar 2020
Conceptualized and led execution of sales, operations, and business strategy to position practice for sustainable growth.
Directed engineering group managers and program managers with indirect responsibility for leading globally dispersed team of engineers in the US and India.
Managed recruitment, staffing, separation, and performance evaluation.
Cultivated relationships with VPs, directors, and engineering managers at 60+ multinational and mid-level client accounts, leveraging insights to align solutions with specific client needs and maximize value.
Steered scheduling, milestone definition, execution, and delivery of 80+ client projects, dramatically growing revenue over three years with 900% growth among top three strategic accounts in previous 12-24 months.
Leveraged servant leadership approach to build high-caliber team, facilitate continual training and development, and create positive culture aligned with overall best practices.
Senior Project Engineer and Manager at Rain Bird Corporation, Tucson, AZ 2014 - 2017
Oversaw large-scale, multifaceted projects to streamline irrigation system product design and manufacturing processes, enabling company to meet evolving client needs and capture new business.
Instrumental to winning $15M+ deal from major client by managing largest equipment packaging project for Consumer Products Group.
Fully accountable for project and risk management, manufacturing plan, stage gate process, quality control, validation, financial justification, engineering drawings, packaging equipment installation, and artwork development.
Effectively motivated and led cross-functional project team, facilitating collaboration and supporting problem solving to remove obstacles, mitigate risks/issues, and ensure on-time completion.
Championed continuous improvement and slashed Defective Rate of Return (DRR) for multimillion-dollar product line by 50+% in fewer than 12 months.
Spearheaded optimization of multiple product lines in dynamic environment by automating, implementing, and replacing equipment, including baggers, torque wrenches, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), pneumatic cylinders, electric actuators, and solenoid valves.
Education example
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (3.9 GPA; 50% complete), Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Skills example
Engineering Management
Multidisciplinary Team Leadership
Project & Program Management
New Product Design & Development
Risk Management & Mitigation
Key takeaways for writing a engineer resume
Engineers are in demand, but it’s also a competitive field, so it’s vital to have a resume that showcases your technical skills, experience, and project wins in a succinct and impactful way.
Focus on including core technologies and key projects in your resume relevant to the job opening to let the hiring manager know the expertise and added value you will bring to their organization.
Target your resume for recruiters and applicant tracking systems by including keywords in each section. Use the job description as your guide.
Make your life easier by using our online resume builder to create your engineer resume with adaptable templates and AI-powered content.
