An attention-grabbing project engineer resume shows off the duality that is great project engineering: expertise in both engineering and management of the people who need to get the project done.
The goal of your application document is to have the recruiter reach out to schedule an interview; you can take it from there. But getting to that point requires a project engineer resume that pulls together all the pieces of your career and creates an enticing package – just like project engineers do for a living.
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This guide is designed to give you the edge you need to put together a resume that gets you noticed. Here’s what we’ll cover:
- What a project engineer does
- How to write a project engineer resume (tips and tricks)
- Choosing the best format for a project engineer resume
- Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional resume layout and design hints.
What does a project engineer do?
A project engineer may be responsible for shepherding a project through its lifecycle or performing technical duties with a goal of project completion. They are the field operators on their projects and have a set of deliverables they focus on.
On smaller projects, they may take on the project management role; however, on larger projects, the project engineer may only be responsible for the technical deliverables and not for the goals of the project as a whole.
As you formulate your project engineer resume, be aware of the type of role for which you are applying and adjust your application to fit. You’ll find more on personalizing your resume below.
Project engineer job market and outlook
Project engineering encompasses a range of industries and the job market and salary follow suit. Below is a chart of average salaries for engineers with different expertise. Computer hardware engineers earn the highest median salary, at $128,170, and agricultural engineers fall at the low end, at $82,640, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Demand is also dependent upon a project engineer’s field. While growth in agricultural engineering jobs is predicted to be only 5%, if you’re in the software engineering business, you should have your pick of positions. As industry becomes more reliant on and more sophisticated about the use of big data, it also becomes more reliant on those engineers who can develop the systems that work with these large data sets.
How to write a project engineer resume
When you parse a project, the first thing you have to know is what are the elements that must go into it. The same is true of your project engineer CV. Include the following sections:
- The resume header
- The resume summary / profile / personal statement
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
Since project engineering is such a broad field, you may want to look at our related resume examples for more ideas. If you’re looking for a management role, check out our project manager resume example or our IT project manager resume sample. If you lean more toward the technical side, we have a general engineering resume sample or specific engineering resume examples, including:
- Facilities Engineer resume sample
- Electrical Engineer resume sample
- CNC machinist resume sample
- Agricultural Engineer resume sample
- Technician resume sample
- Health and Safety Engineer resume sample
- Research Engineer resume sample
- Process Engineer resume sample
- Project Engineer resume sample
- Structural engineer resume sample
- Mechanical Engineer resume sample
- Data engineer resume sample
Choosing the best resume format for a project engineer
If you are a project engineer who has very technical or scientific expertise, you will need to weigh this decision carefully. Typically, we recommend the reverse chronological order resume format for all but a few cases. Project engineers may be one of those cases.
The reverse chronological order resume format, in which jobs are listed from most recent on back, is the most common because it allows recruiters to easily see what you are doing now. It also helps when you apply online, since Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are designed to pull information in this format.
However, a functional resume format offers the flexibility to list more scientific expertise because it expands the skills section and contracts the employment history section. Depending on your work history, you may also consider one of the alternative or hybrid options we offer.
Resume header
The main goal of your resume header is to clearly list your contact information so recruiters don’t have to hunt when they want to schedule your interview. This key component also gives you a chance to distinguish yourself visually from other candidates so that you stick in the mind of hiring personnel. Choose a style that meshes with the company at which you are applying.
Optimize for the ATS
After you make all the effort to write a great resume, it would be a shame to lose out on the job of your dreams because of an algorithm. Most HR departments use ATS software to help them both input applicant data and sort through the many resumes they receive. Then, algorithms rank resumes based partly on keywords and phrases pegged to the job.
If you’re a software engineer, you probably know how these applications work. While there’s no magic formula for beating the ATS, personalizing your project engineer resume will definitely help. Analyze the job posting and compare it to your document. Do you have all the pertinent skills and experience listed? If not, add any words and phrases you can without degrading the tone and flow of your carefully crafted text. That will help boost your resume ranking and give you a better chance to be seen by a person.
Resume summary example: quality assured
The summary for your project engineer resume gives you a chance to explain who you are as a professional and what you will bring to the team. This four-line statement occupies prime space at the top of your document and although it may not be the first section a recruiter looks at, it may be the deciding factor.
Be proud of your achievements and describe yourself and your style as a project engineer with strong words. This is not the time for modesty (but stay on the right side of bragging). Remember that your goal is to get the interview, so make sure you highlight the attributes you have that mesh with the job you want.
Strategic and accomplished project engineer adept in overseeing all phases of the project life cycle. Experienced in establishing effective mechanical engineering methodologies to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with quality standards.
Employment history sample: your career infrastructure
Within your employment history section, you will enumerate what you have achieved in your career. You know details matter, so include those that make your case for employment stronger. For example, what is your percentage of on-time or on-budget project completion? What is the customer satisfaction rate on projects in which you were the engineer? What systems and processes have you used?
Is it better to list all software experience or just the software mentioned in a job listing?
Listing the required software experience in a resume is the bare minimum. If the client has aquired additional software skills, those should also be noted in the resume, as well. Beyond listing the software, if it can be noted how and when the software was used specifically, that can add value to the client's resume.
To make the most of the limited space a project engineer resume has (don’t go beyond two pages), use each bullet item to highlight a different skill so that you offer a well-rounded picture of your capabilities. Use the STAR method to guide you. Begin with the situation, tell what your task was, show the action you took, and take pride in your results.
Project Engineer, Blue Tech Consulting Partners, New York
Jul 2018 - May 2022
- Managed, planned, monitored, and reported on key project engineering goals from conception through implementation.
- Collaborated with a team of six project engineers to effectively lead 12 multi-million dollar projects.
- Communicated with project managers to create more efficient methods.
- Balanced requirements, schedule, and supplier capabilities to define models and deliverables.
- Worked with operators, supervisors, and maintenance departments to improve processes and troubleshoot repairs.
- Set and met 95 percent of project deadlines.
Associate Project Engineer, CB3, New York
Jan 2014 - Jun 2018
- Formulated project parameters and managed all facets of project management for hundreds of individual real estate projects.
- Reviewed engineering tasks and implemented the necessary corrective solutions.
- Led a project delivery team responsible for ensuring project compliance.
- Tracked the progress of each project against goals, objectives, approved budgets, and approved timelines.
- Successfully increased revenue by 55 percent within the span of two years.
CV skills example: balanced approach
Whether you have chosen to expand this portion of your project engineer CV or are using the standard reverse chronological order format, you need to carefully curate your skills section. Why? Because it is one of the first places a recruiter will look, along with your most recent position.
Make sure you examine the job listing as you prepare this CV section. Choose the high-level technical skills that are most important to each employer, but don’t neglect soft skills. Engineering consultant firm SL Controls lists communication, problem-solving, organization, leadership, teamwork, adaptability, creativity, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, and customer service. You can break those down further to pinpoint the exact skills the job calls for. See our adaptable skills resume sample further down.
How technical should a project engineer resume be?
The scope of technical details presented in the resume should align with the job posting. While some project engineer openings will indicate a list of required technical abilities (that should be showcased in the resume) other opportunities will focus more on leadership, relationship building, project management, etc.
- Project Management
- Project/Budget Reporting
- Subcontractor Management
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Risk Analysis and Management
Project engineer resume education example
The education section of your project engineer resume is a listing of your academic achievements. If you are a recent graduate with little experience, you may choose to bump this section up since it highlights your qualifications. You may also add your GPA if it is 3.0 or above, but once you begin your career, your GPA becomes less and less relevant.
For those with a master’s degree, you need not list your high school diploma, but do include any professional certifications you have earned. See our adaptable education resume sample further down.
If you have more than a couple of certifications, consider adding a separate section to list them. You can also add an accolades section if you have earned professional honors or a publications section if you conduct research and publish it.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Fairfield University Fairfield, CT
Sep 2009 - May 2013
Resume layout and design: construct an image
The layout and design of your project engineer resume are as important as its content. First impressions are lasting ones and people are visual creatures, so you need to create a resume in line with the image you want to project. Aim for efficiency, organization, and professionalism using these guidelines:
- Use one font for headings and one for body text – no more
- Vary the lengths of your bullet points to add white space; big blocks of type are uninviting
- Color adds character, but use a muted tone and keep it to a minimum
- Legibility takes precedence over design
- Avoid graphics and other gimmicky elements.
For a headstart on your layout, choose from among our expertly-tested resume templates. Your time is too valuable to get bogged down in formatting when you could be applying for your next, great job.
Key takeaways for a project engineer resume
- A project engineer resume needs to balance technical skills and expertise with the ability to get the job done on-time and within budget.
- Project engineers in IT fields are in the driver’s seat when it comes to the job market.
- Use the summary section to highlight how you will enhance the company.
- Take advantage of the online resume builder to get your job hunt started faster.
