If you’re looking for a great job in the field of mechanical engineering, then you need a resume that efficiently gets the job done but does not have too many bells and whistles. Our resume example will give you a solid basis to build your new job-winning, mechanical engineering resume. Mechanical engineers design physical machines and devices that involve force and movement. This area of engineering focuses on the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems, combining materials science with the principles of physics and mathematics.
You need a mechanical engineer resume that gets straight to the point but is detail oriented, just like any good engineer. This example resume does this by starting off with a strong, keyword-packed summary statement. It includes a lot of relevant skills and industry experience. It then goes on to have a list of job-specific expertise and knowledge. All these things add up to make a great beginning for a mechanical engineer’s resume.
The largest section of a resume is usually the professional experience section. Each entry needs to be concise and factual. Avoid using a lot of adjectives and making the descriptions too long. You just need to have enough words to succinctly explain what you did and were responsible for. Don’t include a lot of details about job tasks. Most of your descriptions should be about your accomplishments and achievements in each role. The best way to format your accomplishments is as a bulleted list at the end of each job description.
Remember to keep your mechanical engineering resume simple and easy to read. Don’t use too many acronyms or a lot of technical jargon. This can make your resume difficult for non-engineering professionals to understand. Remember that HR staff and recruiters will probably be reviewing your resume first. It is definitely okay to include engineering terms and keywords that are directly related to your expertise and working experience, just keep in mind that non-technical people need to be able to make sense of your resume, even if they don’t understand every single word on it. Have a non-engineering person proofread your resume to get an objective view.
If your main objective is to move your career forward and be successful, then you want to
do everything you can to have the best chance of getting a great job in your chosen field. Having an outstanding resume is your first step in doing that. You need to impress your potential new employer right away and give them a good impression - your resume is usually your first and only chance to do this.
Writing a great resume is not easy, but, with the right examples and guidance, you can get it done. Our website has lots of great examples, including this mechanical engineer resume, as well as tips on how to write effective resumes. We’ll tell you everything you need to know to create an excellent resume.
Any role in the engineering world requires a lot of skills and knowledge. In order to land that next great job, your resume has to show that you have the right abilities to perform the job. The best way to portray your engineering skills is to include them within your job descriptions because this will not only list the skill keyword(s), but it will also show how you demonstrated those skills on the job.
The next best way to include your skills is by having a separate list. Listing every skill you have isn’t possible on a resume because you don’t want to have a giant list. It is best to keep your list to ten items or fewer. Pick the skills you are best at or are critical to the job you’re applying for. It is okay to repeat keywords from your job descriptions. This is a good way to really emphasize your key skills.
To be a great mechanical engineer, you must not only be good at figuring things out and coming up with plans, but you also have to be good at working with people to analyze what is needed and how to get the job done. Any engineering job requires a lot of technical skills, but don’t forget about your soft skills.
Here is a list of some great hard and soft skills for a mechanical engineer to have:
Attention to detail
Collaboration
Communication (written and verbal)
Creativity
Mathematics
Problem-solving
Project management
Summary example
Highly analytical, performance-driven engineering professional with 10+ years’ experience creating innovative, cost-efficient designs. Expertise in applied research, new concept development, simulation, and validation. Broad knowledge in alternative fuels industry including repeated success developing prototypes that improve marketability for previously unfeasible technologies. Superior problem-solving and time-management abilities. Team spirited with effective communication and presentation skills. Proficient with AutoCAD, Mathcad, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Mathematica, MSC: ADAMS, CarSim, SolidWorks, Microsoft Project, and MS Office.
Employment history example
Mechanical Design Engineer at Fraczal, Inc., Toledo
2015 - Present
Collaborate with product developers and engineers to develop and operationalize state-of-the-art alternative power plant concepts for automotive applications.
Research and review existing technologies based upon target markets; apply design analysis, FEA process, and non-linear engineering concepts to create plans. Coordinate with suppliers / vendors and internal engineering resources to obtain prototype parts and equipment; define functional, dimensional, and visual requirements for components. Evaluate and demonstrate manufacturing feasibility and technical justification for design approach; conduct design validation. Maintain comprehensive documentation of complex design activities.
Doubled life of liquid hydrogen in vehicle-mounted tanks in collaboration with Chemical Engineers during design of hydrogen re-uptake and sublimation reclamation system.
Conceived, designed, and prototyped a light-weight infinitely variable transmission (IVT) for use with hydrogen fuel cell engines, resulting in 6% improvement in fuel efficiency.
Played integral role in patent-pending electric motorcycle concept combining miniaturized IVT with regenerative braking.
Developed low-weight, low-friction piston assembly for air-pressure vehicle (air car), increasing top speed of prototype by 11% with no decrease in range.
Mechanical Engineer at GAD Transmissions, Detroit
2011 - 2014
Researched and designed new auxiliary equipment to ensure ongoing industry advantage for a CVT / IVT transmission manufacturer.
Developed new tooling concepts and techniques to maximize production effectiveness. Conducted build-versus-buy analysis for new equipment. Teamed with senior engineers to prototype equipment; conducted project / qualification planning for each prototype. Assisted with design documentation utilizing detailed technical drawings and engineering specifications.
Enabled 11% increase in output across three lines by designing, prototyping, testing, and rolling out faster robot-arm assembly.
Contributed to development of new belting system for flagship CVT product, leading to 3% friction decrease during high-RPM operations.
Jr. Mechanical Engineer at Elantro Tool and Die, Lincoln Park
2007 - 2011
Integral to design of new and upgraded equipment for a leading supplier of automotive dies for General Motors.
Analyzed equipment performance and identified inefficiencies. Interfaced with production managers, engineers, and project managers in designing, prototyping, and testing new equipment. Composed technical specifications and design drawings.
Offered major contributions to three-year line overhaul plan, submitting multiple schematics for peer review and validation; concept accepted and integrated into final rollout.
Education example
Master of Science in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University
Skills example
Design, Analysis, and Validation
Project / Qualification Planning
Manufacturing Requirements / Specifications
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
On- and Off-line Test Development