Engineer CV examples and template

A great engineering project starts with a solid foundation: writing a CV should be the same. This guide will walk you through how to format your Engineer CV, showcase your technical expertise, and present your experience in a way that ensures recruiters see you as the best engineer for the job.

Think of this guide as your engineering spec sheet – follow the plan, and everything will fit together perfectly.

A well-structured CV makes it easy for hiring managers to find your key qualifications and experience. If they’ve got to reverse-engineer your CV just to find your experience, you’re in trouble: a clear and coherent layout will guide them towards the details you want them to read the most.

Here’s the structure you should follow:

• Name and contact details – Place these personal details, along with a totally optional photo, at the top so employers can get in touch easily.
• Profile – Kick things off with a concise overview of what makes you the ideal candidate for the job.
• Core skills – Briefly highlight those qualities which make you the best candidate, like technical analysis and software proficiency.
• Work experience – List your previous roles in reverse chronological order, with your most recent first, focusing on engineering projects, problem-solving, and efficiency improvements.
• Education – Go through the academic history which underpins your expertise, like relevant qualifications, degrees, and certifications in engineering.
• Additional info – This optional section can include professional memberships, awards, or hobbies that showcase your skill and interest in the industry.

Whether it’s CAD drawings or a CV, precision matters in engineering. A poorly formatted CV is like a miscalculated load-bearing structure – prone to failure. Your format should be free from mistakes to let recruiters easily understand the things that make you such a perfect candidate.

Follow these formatting rules:

• Bullet points – Use these to highlight key skills and achievements quickly and clearly.
• Divide sections – Separate parts of your CV logically so it’s easy to navigate.
• Use a clear and readable font – Stick to professional and clean fonts, and a sensible colour scheme.
• No more than 2 pages – Keep it a concise length to maintain their interest while still covering all the essentials. 

Your CV profile should quickly introduce you as a skilled engineer who brings value to every project. It should show hiring managers that you don’t just follow blueprints – you create them. You’re in a competitive field, so you should convey the value in going with you over someone else.

Ideally, your profile should include:

• Engineering discipline – Whether mechanical, civil, electrical, or another specialism, make it clear.
• Industry experience – Highlight relevant sectors, such as construction, manufacturing, aerospace, or energy.
• Key technical skills – Mention areas like CAD design, structural analysis, or process optimisation.
• Project achievements – If you’ve improved efficiency, reduced costs, or delivered innovative solutions, showcase the impact.
• Software proficiency – Include relevant engineering tools like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks.

A strong core CV skills section gives hiring managers a quick overview of your expertise in just a short number of bullet points.

Here’s a tip: include the keywords a recruiter is actually looking for when they read applications. Steer clear from generic cliches, and emphasise your practical hard skills.

It’s not enough to say you “worked on engineering projects” – did they work better, faster, or cheaper because of you? Your work experience should demonstrate how you’ve used your skills to solve problems and contribute to successful projects in the real world.

List your roles in reverse chronological order, ensuring each entry is structured with bullet points. If you’re early in your career, highlight internships, research projects, or hands-on experience gained during university.

• Outline – Introduce the company, your role, and the type of engineering work you were involved in.
• Responsibilities – List key tasks, such as designing, testing, or improving engineering systems. Use action words like “developed”, “optimised”, and “analysed”.
• Achievements – Highlight measurable results, such as improved project efficiency, cost savings, or technical innovations.

Engineering requires solid academic foundations, so make sure your qualifications are clearly listed. But as always, practical experience is the priority for recruiters: so keep your education section brief. Junior candidates can afford to expand on certain courses more.

Include degrees in engineering disciplines such as Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, or Software Engineering. If you have additional training in specific tools or certifications, list them here.