The Best Engineering Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)

Try using our AI-powered skills generator to find skills for your target engineering role:

Plus here are some top skills to highlight on your engineering resume:

Technical skills for engineers

Technical skills are the backbone of any engineering resume. Employers want to see that you have the hands-on expertise to solve complex problems, work with advanced tools, and apply industry-specific technologies.

Here are some common technical skills to feature on your resume:

• Project management skills
• Computer skills
• Troubleshooting
• Mathematics
• CAD software (AutoCAD, SolidWords)
• Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft 365
• Documentation
• Material and equipment lists
• Cost analyses
• Technical specifications
• Data analysis
• ERP software (SAP)
• Inventory management
• Process simulation and modeling (Aspen Plus/MATLAB)
• Knowledge of safety standards and regulations

Of course, it’s also important to show employers you have the skills you need for your specialization.

Here are some of the top technical skills across five key engineering fields:

Soft skills for engineers

Engineering isn’t just about the technical aspects of your job. You also need to demonstrate a strong set of soft skills that help you plan and oversee projects, communicate effectively, and collaborate with others to produce a quality result.

Here are some soft skills to highlight on your engineering resume:

• Problem solving skills
• Communication skills
• Creativity
• Time management skills
• Team collaboration
• Attention to detail
• Innovation
• Independence
• Work well under pressure/with tight deadlines

Soft skills shouldn’t be listed in your skills section. Instead, demonstrate how you applied those skills in your work experience bullet points, like this:

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams including designers, product managers, and QA engineers to deliver a high-performance system upgrade

How to highlight engineering skills on your resume

Here’s how you can make sure you highlight all those engineering skills effectively on your resume:

1. Target the skills in the job description

The best way to make sure you include the skills the employer is looking for is by checking the job ad.

Here’s an example of a mechanical engineer job description:

By picking out keywords from the job description (underlined in blue) and highlighting your relevant experience on your resume, you can show employers that you’re a great fit for the position.

Here are some keywords that a candidate applying for this position should highlight:

• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• TileFlow
• Energy engineering/energy management/energy conservation
• Computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)
• Building automation systems (BAS)
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Certification
• LEED AP Certification

2. Feature your strongest qualifications in your introduction

Now you know how to scan the job description for keywords, which makes writing your resume summary much easier.

Your resume summary is usually the first thing hiring managers read, so it’s important to use it to highlight your most relevant engineering experience.

Here’s what you should include in your resume summary to make it stand out:

• How many years of experience you have, and in what areas
• Your top skills and qualifications, highlighted by a professional accomplishment
• How you can benefit the employer

Here’s an example of how to write an engineering resume summary that matches the job ad above, with keywords in bold:

CEM- and LEED AP-certified CFD specialist with 8+ years of experience in energy engineering, management, and conservation. Skilled in using TileFlow and implementing CMMS and BAS. Seeking a challenging role where I can leverage my technical skills and industry knowledge to deliver innovative energy solutions and drive significant cost savings for your organization.

Alternatively, if you’re a recent graduate, write a resume objective instead. It’s similar to a resume summary, but focuses more on your career goals rather than your professional achievements. Here’s a good example:

Recent Mechanical Engineering graduate with a strong foundation in CAD design, data analysis, and materials science. Completed a senior design project focused on sustainable energy solutions, earning top marks for innovation and feasibility. Eager to contribute to a forward-thinking engineering team by applying problem solving skills, attention to detail, and a passion for clean technology.

3. Add engineering skills throughout your work experience section

Your work experience section is the perfect opportunity to expand on your skills and add a little more context.

When you write your work experience bullet points, it’s important to use action verbs that demonstrate the proactive role you’ve taken in your career as well as numbers to quantify your professional accomplishments.

Here’s an example of a work experience section that targets the keywords from our job ad (in bold):

4. List your engineering certifications in a separate section

Having certifications enhances your credibility in the job market and shows a dedication to continuous learning.

List your certifications in a dedicated certifications section unless you only have one certification or license. If you only have one, you can add it to your skills section.

Here are some certifications that may be relevant for your engineering resume:

Engineer resume templates

For inspiration, here are two engineering resume templates you can use to write your own engineering resume.

Template #1

Download This Free Template

Template #2

Download This Free Template

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