The Best Engineering Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)

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

Technical skills for engineers

Technical skills are an important part of an engineering resume. Employers want to see that you have hands-on expertise, as well as the ability to solve complex problems and work with advanced tools.

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

Showing employers you have the skills you need for your specialization is also important.

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

Soft skills for engineers

Your resume should also demonstrate your soft skills — skills that help you plan and oversee projects, communicate effectively, and collaborate with others — in the work experience section of your resume. Here’s an example:

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

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

How to highlight engineering skills on your resume

1. Target the skills in the job description

Check the job ad for the skills that the employer is looking for. Then, add those skills to your resume if you have them.

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

The keywords in this job description have been underlined in blue. Pick out the ones that apply to you and highlight them on your resume to show employers that you’re qualified for the position.

Here are some keywords that someone 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 engineering qualifications in your introduction

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

Your resume summary is usually the first thing employers read, so it needs 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 an 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

In your work experience section, expand on your skills and add more context like how you’ve used your skills and what you accomplished.

Use action verbs to show the proactive role you’ve taken in your career as well as numbers to quantify your accomplishments.

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

4. List your engineering certifications in a separate section

If you have multiple certifications, list them in a certifications section, but if you only have one certification or license you can add it to your skills section.

Here are some relevant engineering certifications:

Engineer resume templates

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

For an engineering student

Download This Free Template

For an electrical engineer

Download This Free Template

Build My Resume

Our resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.