How To Write an Engineering Manager Resume
To craft an eye-catching engineering manager resume, you must demonstrate your expertise within the engineering space using tangible examples from your career. Provide context to paint a clearer picture of your experience and grab the attention of prospective employers. Highlight your most compelling engineering projects and showcase your ability to manage and develop high-performance teams. This guide provides valuable tips and insights to help you translate your career into a powerful marketing document.
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
1. Summarize your engineering manager qualifications in a dynamic profile
Lead your resume with an engaging career snapshot to make a strong first impression on the hiring manager. In your opening sentence, list your job title, years of experience, and three to four key skills. Showcase your proven track record of success within the industry by mentioning a key project, achievement, or metric. Highlight your background in managing cross-functional teams and interfacing with stakeholders. Feature unique insights regarding your experiences and expertise as an engineering leader.
Profile - Example #1
An Engineering Manager with six years of experience within the technology industry, specializing in release management, project management, DevOps, and product development. A proven track record of leading dynamic engineering teams to execute complex projects and initiatives.
Profile - Example #2
An Engineering Manager with eight years of experience, specializing in project management, industrial manufacturing, and stakeholder management. A proven track record of overseeing production activities for multi-million-dollar engineering projects.
2. Add your engineering manager experience with compelling examples
Your professional experience section serves as the foundation of your resume. Employers value candidates who generate results, and the best way to demonstrate this is by leveraging numbers, metrics, and data from your career achievements. Quantifying your engineering accomplishments will provide deeper insights for the hiring manager and paint a clearer picture of your experience.
For example, you could feature monetary figures to establish a sense of scope for your project budgets. You could also provide examples of reducing production costs or improving throughput with corroborating metrics.
As an engineering manager, emphasize your leadership and people management skills. This type of role requires you to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and project stakeholders, so employers will want to see these aspects of your career reflected in your bullet points.
Professional Experience - Example #1
Engineering Manager, Advanced Battery Technology, San Francisco, CA
October 2019 – Present
- Led the engineering organization of an energy technology company specializing in the delivery of advanced batteries with integrated solar power capabilities
- Deliver technical leadership for new product development initiatives, including identifying opportunities to maximize production output and reduce costs by $200K per year
- Support the integration of solar power capabilities in coordination with R&D teams, resulting in a 300% sales increase within one year of product launch
Professional Experience - Example #2
Engineering Manager, Excelsior Manufacturing, Detroit, MI
September 2017 – Present
- Oversee manufacturing engineering and maintenance projects valued at $600K-$3.5M for an industrial manufacturing company, define project scope, evaluate technical requirements, and ensure alignment with budgets and timelines
- Managed plant operations and production activities, including the fabrication, maintenance, installation, and delivery of electromechanical products
- Identify opportunities to reduce production expenses by 15% by leading negotiations with new suppliers for raw materials
3. List any education and certifications relevant to engineering managers
In addition to your education, feature industry certifications to highlight your expertise as an engineering manager. A master’s degree in engineering is an important step in advancing your career. Also consider pursuing a Certified Professional in Engineering Management or Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, as these credentials are often requirements for engineering management positions.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Master of Science (M.S.) Civil Engineering
- Columbia University, New York, NY | June 2016
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- PMP, Project Management Institute | 2017
- Certified Professional in Engineering Management, American Society for Engineering Management | 2016
4. Outline your most useful engineering manager skills and proficiencies
To generate interviews during your job search, you must incorporate key skills that match the needs of the organization you’re applying for. If your document lacks a certain number of keywords from the job description, your application may be automatically rejected before it reaches the hiring manager.
To ensure your document is properly optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS), we’ve provided a list of common key skills you may encounter as you apply for engineering manager positions:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| AutoCAD | Chemical engineering |
| Civil engineering | Continuous improvement |
| Cross-functional collaboration | DevOps |
| Electrical engineering | Engineering management |
| Industrial engineering | Lean manufacturing |
| Manufacturing | MATLAB |
| Microcontrollers | Process engineering |
| Product development | Programmable Logic Controller (PCL) |
| Project management | Research and development (R&D) |
| Software engineering | Stakeholder management |
| Vendor management | |
5. Highlight your technical expertise
Hiring managers will want to see specific aspects of your technical skill sets and how you put them into practice throughout your career. In the example below, the candidate is pursuing an engineering manager position within the energy industry. They paint a compelling image for prospective employers. The candidate showcases how they coordinated with R&D teams and cross-functional groups to support the integration of solar power capabilities in their batteries:
- Led the engineering organization of an energy technology company specializing in the delivery of advanced batteries with integrated solar power capabilities
- Deliver technical leadership for new product development initiatives, including identifying opportunities to maximize production output and reduce costs by $200,000 per year
- Support the integration of solar power capabilities in coordination with R&D teams, resulting in a 300% sales increase within one year of product launch
Engineering Manager Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Melissa Anderson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 W Adams Ave, Detroit, MI 12345
Profile
An Engineering Manager with eight years of experience, specializing in project management, industrial manufacturing, and stakeholder management. A proven track record of overseeing production activities for multi-million-dollar engineering projects.
Professional Experience
Engineering Manager, Excelsior Manufacturing, Detroit, MI
September 2017 – Present
- Oversee manufacturing engineering and maintenance projects valued at $600K-$3.5M for an industrial manufacturing company, define project scope, evaluate technical requirements, and ensure alignment with budgets and timelines
- Managed plant operations and production activities, including the fabrication, maintenance, installation, and delivery of electromechanical products
- Identify opportunities to reduce production expenses by 15% by leading negotiations with new suppliers for raw materials
Engineering Manager, Corner Stone Manufacturing, Detroit, MI
June 2014 – September 2017
- Managed capital improvement projects in coordination with the plant manager to enhance production output and improve product delivery timelines by 10%
- Analyzed product designs in coordination with product development teams to ensure compliance with engineering principles, stakeholder specifications, and plant capabilities
Education
Master of Science (M.S.) Engineering
University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI May 2013 – May 2014
Bachelor of Science (M.S.) Engineering
University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI September 2009 – May 2013
Key Skills
- Engineering Management
- Industrial Engineering
- Project Management
- Process Improvement
- Operations Management
Frequently Asked Questions: Engineering Manager Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for engineering manager resumes?-
Running out of action verbs to illustrate your professional experience on your resume is easy. You can often use only a few words to frame your engineering management accomplishments accurately. That said, differentiating your usage of action verbs can enhance the impact of your bullet points and provide a better reading experience for the hiring manager.
To keep your content fresh and compelling throughout your document, we’ve provided a list of common action verbs for you to use:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Built |
| Collaborated | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Delivered | Designed |
| Developed | Diagnosed |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Identified | Implemented |
| Improved | Managed |
| Oversaw | Performed |
| Planned | Provided |
How do you align your resume with an engineering manager job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for engineering managers was $152,350 in 2021. The projected growth rate for these types of positions was only 4%, which means you’ll face no shortage of competition during the job search. Aligning your resume with the engineering manager position you’re applying for will significantly increase your chances of landing the interview.
For example, if you notice a company is emphasizing continuous improvement, showcase specific projects and initiatives you led to reduce costs, improve production output, or enhance team performance. By providing the reader with tangible examples of you putting these skill sets into practice, you’ll create a compelling image for the hiring manager and differentiate yourself from the competition during your job search.
What is the best engineering manager resume format?-
Reverse chronological is the ideal format for engineering manager resumes. This approach features your most recent and relevant experience towards the top of your document while displaying your career progression. Functional resumes should always be avoided, as simply listing engineering skills won’t help you stand out during the job search.
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Once you’ve completed your resume, a good way to finish it before sending it to your prospective internship is to add a cover letter. A cover letter is a great opportunity to speak directly to the hiring manager and explain why you’re the best candidate for the job.
Remember, a cover letter should be fairly succinct. Don’t exceed more than 400 words — 250 to 300 is ideal. For more information and ideas, view our engineering cover letter examples.
