Engineers are hot commodities, but many positions remain empty because recruiters seek experienced candidates. With demand for engineering skills soaring, there’s a hefty gap between new engineering positions and fresh graduates. 

So, how do you show all your technical skills without your resume resembling a dense lab report? The secret is showing how your skills translate to success through your background, education, and professional growth. Once you nail your resume, you’re free to prove your worth in the interview rounds. 

This guide will show you:

• Examples of 25 engineer resumes, across different fields and experience levels.
• How to present your experience and skills clearly for non-technical recruiters. 
• Tips on making your engineer resume stand out in this competitive industry. 

Engineering Resume Samples 

Engineering covers a range of fields, disciplines, and responsibilities — meaning a one-size-fits-all resume for all the job openings just won’t cut it. While including essential tools and technologies like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, MATLAB, and Python is standard, depending on your field, you’ll want to focus more on the specifics.

Apart from adjusting your engineering resume to your specialization, tailoring every resume you send to each job opening seriously boosts your chances of landing an interview. 

Sure, it’s more effort, but the payoff is worth it. I’ve rounded up 25 resumes across various engineering industries and experience levels to inspire you about what to include and how to structure a compelling resume. 

Let’s begin with resumes designed for each engineering field. Below you’ll find sample engineer resumes with all the key details you can include. 

Mechanical Engineering Resume

For a Mechanical Design Engineer resume, focus on your successes in developing and optimizing mechanical components. Include your expertise in mechanical and electromechanical systems. Show your ability to use tools like 3D printers, Computer Aided Design (CAD), and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) programs.

Civil Engineering Resume

Your Civil Engineering resume should highlight your expertise in managing infrastructure projects, such as wastewater systems or building roads and dams. Emphasize your collaboration skills through experience working with other engineers, architects, and stakeholders. Include your proficiency in software and tools like AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and StormCAD. 

Electrical Engineering Resume

An Electrical Engineering resume should show your ability to design, develop, build, and test various electrical equipment and systems, such as phones, computers, and power grids. Emphasize your expertise in circuit design, signal processing, and PCB design. Detail your proficiency in software like MATLAB, Simulink, and LabVIEW. 

Chemical Engineering Resume

With a Chemical Engineering resume, talk about designing and planning chemical manufacturing systems, including equipment and operating procedures. Include knowledge of unit operations, mass and energy transfer, stoichiometry, and fluid dynamics. Highlight your foundation in safety protocols and chemical process optimization. 

Industrial Engineering Resume

Your Industrial Engineering resume should focus on your expertise in managing industrial production processes. Showcase skills in quality assurance, project management, and research. Detail your experience with software like MATLAB and Python, C++, along with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel. 

Technical Engineering Resume

For a Technical Engineering resume, emphasize your skills in solving technical issues and developing preventative procedures. Highlight your ability to troubleshoot hardware and software problems, install and update software, and conduct tests. Show your expertise in communicating complex technical information to non-technical team members and clients. 

Biomedical Engineering Resume

Your Biomedical Engineering resume should highlight your ability to design and develop medical devices, as well as conducting clinical trials and research. Emphasize skills in maintaining biomedical equipment, providing technical support, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Include experience with medical imaging, diagnostic equipment, and lab techniques. 

Aerospace Engineering Resume

An Aerospace Engineering resume should outline your expertise in designing and maintaining aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. Add knowledge of aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and materials science. Mention proficiency with software tools like Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). 

Maintenance Engineering Resume

For a Maintenance Engineering resume, highlight your skills in inspecting and ensuring the operation of maintenance equipment. Emphasize expertise in troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and equipment installation. Include your ability to create maintenance plans, and order, test, and repair machine parts. 

Structural Engineering Resume

Your Structural Engineering resume should focus on your experience in designing and constructing safe and efficient buildings and structures. Show successes in analyzing structural integrity and implementing cost-reducing materials and methods. Demonstrate your leadership in overseeing construction processes and maintaining safety standards. 

Automotive Engineering Resume

With an Automotive Engineering resume, emphasize your skills in designing, developing, and testing vehicle components and systems. Highlight knowledge of vehicle design, automotive electronics, mechanical analysis, and Powertrain systems. Include achievements in designing engines, transmissions, and steering systems. 

Environmental Engineering Resume

For an Environmental Engineering resume, highlight achievements in waste reduction, eco-friendly solutions, and resource optimization. Show knowledge of environmental laws and regulations and your experience with site assessments and data interpretation. Include skills like environmental consulting, pollution control, water management, and GIS mapping software. 

Marine Engineering Resume

Your Marine Engineering resume should show your skills in constructing and maintaining mechanical systems for ships. Highlight your role in designing marine structures and vessels while ensuring compliance with international maritime regulations. Add your ability to solve complex issues to ensure vessel operational integrity and minimize downtime.

Geotechnical Engineering Resume

A Geotechnical Engineering resume should emphasize expertise in site evaluation, ground improvement techniques, and soil testing. Include experience in retaining structures, reducing geotechnical hazards, managing construction material testing labs, and assessing slope stability. Highlight proficiency with geotechnical software like PLAXIS and GeoStudio. 

Agricultural Engineering Resume

For an Agricultural Engineering resume, outline your ability to design, develop, and evaluate systems and equipment for agricultural production. Detail successes in implementing solutions to boost productivity, manage water resources, and promote food system sustainability. Add knowledge of sustainable farming practices and precision agriculture techniques. 

Food and Beverage Engineering Resume 

Your Food and Beverage Engineering resume should emphasize skills in developing and optimizing food processes and systems. Outline experience in food manufacturing, packaging, and quality control measures. Include your knowledge of food science and safety regulations. Mention collaboration with industry experts to innovate production methods.

Site Engineering Resume 

With a Site Engineering resume, highlight your expertise in overseeing construction projects from start to finish. Demonstrate skills in enforcing safety procedures, applying structural analysis, drafting designs, and conducting site inspections. Include proficiency in using new technologies like drones and BIM software for project management. 

Quality Assurance Engineering Resume 

For a Quality Assurance Engineering resume, show your ability to ensure products meet high-quality standards before customer release. Highlight technical proficiency in programming languages like Java, Python, and C++. Include skills in test case development, automated testing tools, and knowledge of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). 

Manufacturing Engineering Resume 

A Manufacturing Engineering resume should focus on your successes across the production lifecycle, from design to implementation. Showcase achievements in optimizing manufacturing processes for productivity and cost efficiency. Highlight your experience in integrating new technologies for process enhancement and repair services. 

You should also tailor your resume to suit your experience level, take a look: 

Student Engineering Resume 

Your student engineering resume should highlight your technical skills and experience gained through your degree. Include core engineering abilities, such as programming, fundamentals of engineering, and CAD, detailing how you've applied them. Add involvement in engineering organizations and clubs to show your proactive approach. If you have close to zero relevant engineering work experience, you can put your education section above the work history.

Graduate Engineering Resume 

For a graduate engineering resume, prioritize your education with any internships or volunteer work that shows what you can contribute as an engineer. Highlight technical abilities, specifying relevant software proficiency and technical knowledge. Demonstrate soft skills like teamwork and problem-solving through concrete examples, such as presentations or leadership roles. 

Junior Engineering Resume 

With a junior engineering resume, emphasize your eagerness to learn under mentorship while showing your ability to work independently. Highlight proficiency in programming languages like Java, C++, and JavaScript. Demonstrate your skills in developing project plans, conducting calculations, and managing timelines. 

Mid-Level Engineering Resume

A mid-level engineering resume should outline your ability to plan projects, meet deadlines, and show a willingness to grow. Use metrics to quantify your impact on projects, showing the scale and significance of your contributions. Include experiences where you’ve led projects or mentored junior team members to demonstrate leadership skills. 

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Experienced Engineering Resume

For an experienced engineering resume, highlight your leadership skills in guiding teams of junior and mid-level engineers, and track record of engineering achievements. Detail successes in employee recruitment, training, and ensuring projects meet deadlines and budget constraints. Include advanced technology abilities, especially in AI and machine learning. 

How to Write an Engineer Resume

Short answer: 

Structure your resume in the reverse-chronological format to show your career progression, starting with your most recent role. Use clear headings, bullet points, and standard fonts for easy readability. Add a clear summary to introduce your expertise and include key achievements while emphasizing what you can bring to the position. Focus on accomplishments over responsibilities in your work experience section with tangible contributions. Highlight technical and soft skills by demonstrating how they solve real-world challenges. If you’re an experienced candidate, limit your education section to your highest degree only. For fresh graduates, expand your education section and include degree specifics, academic projects, and certifications to show your readiness and dedication. 

Choose the right engineering resume format 

First impressions aren’t everything — except in the world of resumes. Recruiters sift through a ton of job applications every day, spending less than ten seconds on each one. And with a resume packed with technical know-how, that attention span tends to shrink even more.

Using the right formatting draws recruiters in from the get-go. Are you more likely to read the article with large blocks of text or the one with headings, bullet points, and a nice, tidy structure? 

Here’s a breakdown of the top resume formats: 

• Reverse-chronological format. This popular format puts your work experience front and center. You start with your recent job and work backward, showing your career trajectory. Use this structure to highlight your career progression. 
• Functional (skills-based) format. The functional format focuses on your skills, so it fits well for those with limited experience or work history gaps. However, this format doesn’t have the best track record with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and usually only stands a chance if you send it to a smaller company or directly to a human reader. 
• Hybrid (combination) format. Blending the two formats can work if you want to spotlight your skills at the front while still including a dedicated work experience section. Consider this format if you have extensive work experience and many achievements or a very wide range of technical skills you want to highlight.

When in doubt, go for the tried-and-tested reverse-chronological format. Recruiters are the most familiar with this structure, so they’ll know exactly where to look to find what they’re interested in. 

Here’s how to structure your reverse-chronological engineer resume: 

• Header with contact information
• Resume summary or objective
• Work experience
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications
• Any additional sections

Employers expect their engineers to be organized and precise, so reflect this on your resume. If your font is sloppy and your headings barely stand out, how can they trust you to design a (fully functional) aircraft?

Check out these tips to make your engineering resume more clean and professional.

• Headings. Include clear headings in size 14–16 pt to break down the text in your resume. Add them to draw attention to your work experience, education, skills, and certifications sections. 
• Font. Use clear, ATS-friendly fonts like Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia, or Times New Roman. Keep your font size between 10 and 12 and don’t bother with fancy colors — plain black is fine. 
• Bullet Points. Add bullet points to make it easy for recruiters to skim your resume and pick out key details. And don’t make them super lengthy; that defeats the purpose — keep them concise with relevant info. 
• Margins. Keep margins between 0.5 and 1 inch for a neat, organized look. 

Learn all the tips and tricks to writing a clean and professional resume: How to Format a Resume & What Standard Resume Format to Use

Add contact information and a header

Adding your contact information is the easiest part if you’re familiar with your first name — just double-check before sending; you don’t want to miss an opportunity because of a typo in your email address.

At the top of your resume, include your full name, professional email address, phone number, and LinkedIn address. If you have those, add links to your GitHub profile, or a personal portfolio website. Make sure these links are up-to-date. 

Using the right headline is also a surefire way to tell the recruiter immediately who you are and your engineering specialty. Think of yourself as a product on a packed shelf: how can your label stand out and tell that busy customer you’re exactly what they’re looking for?

Your header has to be unique to you, but here are some examples to help clear the brain fog: 

• Mechanical Engineer Specializing in Sustainable Design
• Civil Engineer Skilled in Infrastructure Development
• Versatile Environmental Engineer Committed to Sustainable Solutions

Learn more: What Sections to Include on Your Resume?

Highlight work experience 

The term “work experience” has misled many jobseekers into thinking they only need to write a list of responsibilities to get the seal of approval. Today is not the day to fight the system, but a more accurate term for this section would be “work achievements”. 

Don’t get me wrong, listing your duties is handy for telling employers what work you’ve done and your engineering specialty. But “conducting tests and research” gets pretty repetitive after a long hour of looking at chemical engineering resumes. 

What do they really want to know? The value you can bring to their company. 

Check out the difference between describing what you did and describing your potential: 

“Developed new systems”

“Developed a new calibration system that reduced testing time by 30%.”

Your achievements set you apart. Many engineers have similar responsibilities, but what you achieve in those roles makes you stand out. 

Think of it this way: your partner tells you they’ve cleaned the dishes. Does that mean the dishes are going to be spotless? The same applies here — hiring managers need to know if your duties led to success and how you can bring that positive impact to your new position. 

Keep your experiences relevant to the position and include any specific products, equipment, or processes you developed. Mention their outcomes and how they solved practical challenges for your company or customers. 

And what if you’re new to the field or recently graduated? Don’t overlook unpaid internships, volunteer positions, or engineering projects. Just remember to keep it relevant. If you worked at an ice cream parlor in college, it’s best to leave it out unless it directly relates to the skills needed for the engineering role.

Make sure your skills and achievements shine with our guide: How to Describe Your Work Experience on a Resume.

List skills and tools

For most resumes, the skills section is relatively basic. However, engineers have those all-important technical skills, which need a little more attention. Plus, with the demand for engineering skills expected to grow by about 13% from 2023 to 2031, the pressure is on to show recruiters you have what it takes. 

Let’s start with the more general engineering capabilities and soft skills. Rather than sticking to a wishy-washy list squeezed into the only free space, it’s better to show how you apply these skills. The good news? If you’ve already fine-tuned your work experience section, your skills will shine through all on their own. 

Here’s how you can convey your soft skills through your achievements:

Worked with architects and construction managers to drive a sustainable housing project.
(Communication skills)

​​Minimized downtime by 15% by performing routine evaluations. 
(Problem-solving skills)

While references to soft skills show you’re a well-rounded candidate, your technical skills reveal your true expertise. Many engineering positions require specialized technical knowledge of various software, equipment, and tools. Laying out these hard skills lets recruiters quickly identify if you have the right capabilities for the job. 

But remember, recruiters aren’t aerospace engineering or chemical analysis experts — you need to break it down while keeping their interest. One way to do this is by grouping your skills into relevant categories, like software, manufacturing, lab equipment, technologies, or tools. This makes it easier for hiring managers to see your strengths at a glance.

Here’s a quick example:

• Software: AutoCAD, SolidWorks, MATLAB, Python
• Design: Prototyping, CAD Modeling, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) 
• Simulation: ANSYS, Simulink, SimScale
• Manufacturing: Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, CNC Machining

List skills directly relevant to the job you’re applying for — if you’re not sure, check the job description to find keywords to include in your resume. Just don’t get carried away and bombard the recruiter with a load of technical jargon; focus on the most important skills. 

Need some inspiration? Here are the most common soft and hard skills for an engineer’s resume: 

Soft skills 

• Teamwork
• Research 
• Adaptability
• Organization 
• Brainstorming 
• Communication 
• Problem-solving 
• Critical thinking 
• Time management
• Emotional Intelligence

Hard skills 

• Programming
• Data analysis 
• Manufacturing 
• Inventory control 
• Technical writing 
• Material handling
• CAD proficiency 
• Risk assessment
• Mathematical skills 
• Project management

Find out exactly how to show off those coveted skills here: How to Put Skills on a Resume

Include education history 

Your educational history is like the foundation of a sturdy building — it’s not the focus, but it’s essential for the stability of the entire structure. So while your work experience takes the spotlight, mentioning your education is a must, as most engineering positions require at least a bachelor’s degree. 

Start with the basic details of your college degree(s) with the school’s name, degree, and graduation date. If you’re still studying, mention your expected graduation date.

For those fresh out of college with little work experience, release your inner teacher’s pet by expanding your education section to show off your abilities and accomplishments. 

Here’s what to include if you lack work experience: 

• Add any dissertations, courses, or academic projects relevant to the position. This shows you’ve got the foundational knowledge and skills needed for the job.
• Highlight your dedication by including academic achievements, such as awards, honors, or scholarships, to prove you can excel in your subject of expertise. 
• Emphasize your proactivity by mentioning your involvement in any extracurricular activities, organizations, or societies for engineering students. 

For more details, check out: How to List Education on a Resume

Mention courses, certifications, or projects 

Employers want to see what value you can add to their company with your skills and knowledge — but they also want to see your passion. Showing enthusiasm for your new role doesn’t have to wait until the interview phase; you can get a head-start by dropping a few extra details in your resume. Also, the courses and certifications you completed are verifiable, so they’re solid proof of your competencies.

• Certifications. Prove you’re eager to expand your knowledge of specific tools, technologies, or methodologies relevant to your engineering discipline. List any significant certifications you have, like the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification or the Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Courses. If you’ve taken any relevant courses, either during your degree or through continuing education, include them. For example, if you’re an electrical engineer, courses in circuit design, power systems, or electronics would be an impressive addition. 
• Projects. Detail significant projects you contributed to or led. Describe your role, the methods you applied, and (most importantly) outcomes. For instance, if you developed a new software tool, explain how it improved efficiency or solved a problem. 

Create a summary 

Once you’ve drafted a chef’s kiss of a resume, it’s time to return to the top of the page for your resume summary. Why are you writing this at the end? You’re doing what it says on the tin — summarizing all your key points and accomplishments. 

Start by briefly introducing your areas of expertise. For example, mention your engineering discipline and any specific technical skills or tools you’re proficient in. Include a couple of standout achievements or technical challenges you’ve overcome, then wrap up by highlighting your potential and what you bring to the table. 

Here’s an example:

Dynamic mechanical engineer with 5+ years of experience in CAD design, product development, and process optimization. Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams to deliver innovative engineering solutions, reducing production costs by 20%. Adept at overcoming technical challenges and committed to continuous improvement and professional growth.

This summary gets an A+ for being concise while showing your expertise, key achievements, and potential. It sets the stage for the rest of your resume and grabs the hiring manager's attention. 

You can also use our Rezi AI Resume Summary Generator — just enter your position and skills and our technology will automatically generate a resume in seconds to match your details. 

Find out how to make the best first impression: How to Write a Job-Winning Resume Summary (with Examples)

What Makes Engineering Resumes Different

In short: find the balance between technical expertise and recruiter accessibility. 

When reading a book or article, you naturally gravitate towards subjects you understand or find interesting. You’re probably not going to read the chemistry report if you don’t know your chromium from your cobalt. 

And that’s the challenge for engineering resumes. 

Especially when applying for roles with bigger companies, you can expect your resume to be reviewed by an external recruiter or an in-house HR team member (at best). 

Even if specializing in technical hires, they might not have a deep understanding of very complex engineering technologies. Rather than flooding them with jargon, catch their attention by simplifying your language and emphasizing how your skills translate into successful outcomes. You’ll get to the nitty-gritty later on in the process when interviewing with your future manager.

Outline projects and outcomes 

Whether in college or the real world, highlighting your projects throughout your resume gives tangible examples of how you apply your skills with hands-on experience. Besides, projects tell a story, much more so than descriptions of your day-to-day. (Hint: these projects you describe will also make great talking points for the interviewing stage.)

What this means for you: 

• Focus on the outcomes and achievements of the project so employers can get an idea of what you can bring to your new role. For example, “Led a team developing a new automated manufacturing process to increase production efficiency.” 
• Engineers know their way around numbers, so don’t miss the opportunity to quantify results with measurable outcomes. For instance, “Reduced downtime by 25% by implementing reliable maintenance strategies.”

Show deep technical knowledge

Engineering requires a certain level of skill and technical know-how that not everyone can master (believe me). Now is the time to show off those skills, technology, and tools that match perfectly with the demands of your future role. 

What this means for you: 

• Highlight specific projects and achievements where you applied these technical skills. For example, explain how you used AutoCAD to create 3D designs to help optimize a construction project. 
• When outlining your skills, make it clear how experienced you are with particular software or technology. Your proficiency could give you an edge over someone who’s just picked up the skill in college — either way, it’s best to be honest. 

Avoid technical jargon

There’s a fine line between showing your technical skills and bombarding the recruiter with technical jargon. Let’s put it this way — ever tried explaining your super technical job and seen people’s eyes slowly glazing over? 

Many recruiters and HR managers come from a non-technical background, so you need to find the balance of showing your tech knowledge in a clear and accessible way. 

What this means for you: 

• Instead of technical descriptions, use simple language that anyone can understand. For example, replace “utilized computational fluid dynamics for thermal analysis” with “used software to analyze heat flow.” You can save the juicy details for the interview rounds. 
• Describe your technical expertise with outcomes and achievements rather than technical processes. For instance, instead of detailing complex engineering methodologies, highlight the impact of your work on projects or products.

Use the right keywords and action verbs 

Aligning your resume with the job description shows recruiters you have the relevant skills and experiences they need and understand their requirements — plus, you get bonus points for doing your research.

What this means for you: 

• Match your skills and technical proficiencies with those specifically mentioned in the job description. For example, if the job requires proficiency in SolidWorks, explain how you used the software to create innovative designs. 
• Use keywords and phrases from the job description throughout your resume to get the green light ATS scanners. But keep it authentic and natural — if the job description emphasizes project management skills, describe your leadership experience using similar terminology. 

Focus on engineering achievements 

Highlighting your achievements isn’t specific to engineering, but it’s one of the best ways to get your resume to the top of the pile. Every structural engineer knows how to work with building materials, but how many can successfully lead a residential project? Your tangible achievements show employers your ability to deliver results. 

What this means for you: 

• Instead of just listing job responsibilities, quantify your accomplishments with specific metrics. For example, “Implemented a wastewater treatment upgrade resulting in a 30% reduction in pollutants in local waterways.”
• You don’t always need to use numbers. Describe how you applied engineering principles to solve problems or improve processes. For instance, “Designed and implemented a new system that improved product quality.”

Bonus Resources for Engineers 

A common mistake engineers make after college is thinking they’re ready to conquer the world. The reality is, every engineer has a degree nowadays. Your education section is just another checkbox for recruiters. However, you can stand out by furthering your education with courses and certifications.

Spending a few extra hours or weeks to show your commitment to the field can give you the edge over other candidates with the same degrees and skills. If it brings you closer to your dream job, it’s worth it. 

Here are my top recommendations:

Courses

Coursera 

Coursera is an online learning platform offering courses, specializations, and degrees from established universities and companies worldwide. It's great for gaining new skills, enhancing your resume, and continuing your education at your own pace.

Recommended engineering courses: 

• Introduction to Engineering Mechanics
• Mathematics for Engineers Specialization
• Engineering Project Management Specialization
• Autodesk CAD/CAM/CAE for Mechanical Engineering Specialization

Udemy 

Udemy is an education platform with thousands of courses on various topics, from programming to personal development. You can learn skills from the comfort of your own home, whether for career advancement or personal growth.

Recommended engineering courses: 

• Electrical Power Engineering Principles
• Complete course in AutoCAD: 2D and 3D
• Aerospace Engineering: Rocket Science and Engineering
• The Comprehensive ETABS Professional Course (RCC and Steel)

edX

edX offers free online courses from top universities like MIT and Harvard. It provides a range of subjects, including engineering, allowing you to earn certificates and even complete degree programs. 

Recommended engineering courses: 

• SOLIDWORKS: SOLIDWORKS CAD Fundamentals
• DartmouthX: The Engineering of Structures Around Us
• MITx: Management in Engineering: Accounting and Planning
• NUS: Data Science for Construction, Architecture, and Engineering

Certifications

The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE)

The PE exam assesses basic competency in an engineering discipline and is for engineers with at least four years of post-college experience. The exam is available across 27 different disciplines.

Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt

A CSSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is an expert in Six Sigma principles, team leadership, and the DMAIC model. You’ll learn about lean enterprise concepts and skills to identify non-value-added activities.

Project Management Professional (PMP)®

The PMP certification, created by PMI, recognizes project managers with proven leadership and expertise. You must meet specific requirements and pass a 180-question exam, reflecting real-life project management experiences. Especially recommended for more experienced candidates looking to take a lead in bigger projects or transition into a leadership role.

Quality Engineer Certification CQE

A Certified Quality Engineer masters quality evaluation and control, covering quality systems, testing, metrology, statistical methods, and auditing. You’ll learn to diagnose issues, implement corrections, and develop management information systems.

Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE)

Consider earning your CMfgE certification if you have advanced manufacturing experience. Ideal for leaders, it requires eight years of combined education and work experience (four years minimum). 

Summary

Here’s what you need to know about writing a winning engineer resume, in a nutshell:

• Opt for a reverse chronological format to highlight your work experience — this structure makes it easy for recruiters and ATS scanners to identify key information. 
• Start bullet points with strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments. Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with numbers, percentages, or other metrics.
• Write a concise summary tailored to the job description, highlighting your technical skills, relevant experience, accomplishments, and career goals. 
• Focus on quantifiable achievements rather than just job duties. Highlight projects you’ve led, problems you’ve solved, and results you’ve achieved.
• List your technical skills prominently, focusing on those most relevant to the job. Include specific software, tools, and methodologies alongside your proficiency level. 
• Detail your educational background, certifications, and any specialized training that shows you’re willing to learn and grow in your field.
• Describe specific engineering projects you’ve worked on, detailing your role, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and outcomes achieved.
• Customize your resume for each job application by adjusting keywords and emphasizing skills and experiences relevant to the specific role.
• Review your resume carefully to eliminate typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies — engineers are expected to be meticulous, and the devil is in the details.

FAQ

What resume format is best for engineers?

The reverse chronological format is generally the best choice for engineers. It highlights your work experience in a clear timeline, letting hiring managers see your career progression and how your skills have evolved. It’s also the most popular format, so recruiters and ATS scanners will find it easier to find key information. 

Should an engineering resume have a summary?

A summary is a strong start for engineering resumes, as it gives recruiters a snapshot of your abilities, experience, and career goals in just a few sentences. Use this section to highlight your key technical skills, notable achievements, and career aspirations to grab the attention of hiring managers and make them want to read more.

What should an engineer’s CV look like?

An engineer’s CV, unlike a resume, is mostly targeting academic or research roles. CVs are much more detailed with a focus on academia, often covering over five pages. 

Start with your contact information and objective, followed by a detailed education section, listing degrees, institutions, and graduation dates. Include your teaching experiences, awards, presentations, and publications, with context for each achievement. Mention any relevant courses or conferences attended to show continuous learning.

If you're applying outside North America, a CV is more reminiscent of a resume and is typically used to apply for non-academic positions. In this case, you can follow the standard resume format with relevant work experience, skills, and education history.

Learn more: CV (Curriculum Vitae) vs. Resume: The Difference Explained

How do I make my engineering resume stand out?

Focus on quantifiable achievements rather than just listing duties to get noticed. Highlight projects you've led or contributed to, including outcomes and metrics, to show future employers the value you can bring to the new role. 

Tailor your resume to each application by aligning your skills and experiences with the job description. An easy way to do this is by including keywords from the job posting to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS). 

What are the key skills of an engineer?

Key skills for engineers include technical proficiency in specific software and tools relevant to your field (e.g., CAD software, programming languages). Depending on your specialization and experience level, additional skills like knowledge of regulations and standards and leadership may also be important.

Soft skills include problem-solving abilities, analytical thinking, project management skills, teamwork and collaboration, attention to detail, and effective communication. 

How long should a resume be for an engineer?

An engineer’s resume should ideally be 1–2 pages long. For entry-level engineers or recent graduates, one page is usually enough. For more experienced engineers with a robust career history, you might spill over to two pages to show your skills and achievements. However, avoid unnecessary details and aim to keep the resume concise and to the point.