A good engineering CV reads like a well-written technical report: clear, specific and backed by evidence. Engineering managers want to see what you designed, built, tested or improved, the standards and tools you worked with, and the measurable result. Generic duties lists are the most common reason strong engineers are overlooked, so every bullet on your engineering CV should name the system, your role and the outcome.
Whether you are an engineering apprentice, a graduate engineer, a design or project engineer or a Chartered Engineer leading a team, the structure below works for engineering jobs across the UK. Pick one of the engineering CV templates above for a clean, ATS-friendly layout, then use the example, skills lists and tips on this page to write content that gets you to interview.
A complete example you can use as a starting point. Pick a template above and the builder will pre-fill similar content for you to edit.
Owen Prescott
Mechanical Design Engineer, IEng MIMechE
Bristol, UK · owen.prescott@example.com · 07700 900919
Personal statement
Incorporated Engineer (IEng MIMechE) with seven years designing mechanical systems for aerospace ground support and industrial equipment. Skilled in SolidWorks, FEA and tolerance analysis, with a record of taking products from concept to production release and cutting manufacturing cost. Working towards CEng and looking for a senior design engineer role with more system-level responsibility.
Experience
Mechanical Design Engineer, Westbury Ground Systems, Bristol
Mar 2021 – Present
- Lead mechanical design of hydraulic aircraft jacks and towbars, owning 250+ parts from concept to production release.
- Ran FEA and fatigue calculations to EN 1915 requirements, achieving first-time customer design approval on four new products.
- Reduced unit cost by 14% through design for manufacture reviews with fabrication and machining suppliers.
- Mentor two graduate engineers and review drawings for compliance with BS 8888 and company standards.
Graduate Design Engineer, Avoncroft Industrial Equipment, Gloucester
Sep 2019 – Feb 2021
- Designed conveyor and guarding assemblies in SolidWorks for bespoke production lines in the food sector.
- Prepared technical files and risk assessments to support UKCA and CE marking for 12 machines.
- Supported installation and commissioning on customer sites, resolving fit and access issues on the spot.
Education
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, 2:1, University of the West of England
2016 – 2019
A levels: Maths A, Physics B, Design & Technology A, City of Bristol College
2014 – 2016
Key skills
SolidWorks and AutoCAD · FEA and hand calculations · GD&T to BS 8888 · Design for manufacture · Machinery safety (PUWER, ISO 12100) · Technical report writing
Professional registration and discipline
Put your discipline and registration status at the top, e.g. "Chartered Engineer (CEng MIMechE)", "IEng MIET" or "EngTech TMICE". If you are working towards registration, say so and name the institution. Recruiters use this to place your level immediately.
Technical profile
A short statement covering your engineering discipline, sector (automotive, aerospace, energy, rail, process, construction), the type of work you do (design, manufacturing, project delivery, test) and one or two concrete achievements.
Engineering experience and projects
For each role, describe the systems or products you worked on, your responsibility, the standards and tools involved, and the result in numbers: cost saved, downtime reduced, project value, timescales met. Graduates and apprentices should add university, placement and personal projects here.
Education and qualifications
Include your degree (BEng, MEng, MSc) with classification, HNC/HND or apprenticeship standard and level, and A levels or BTECs if you are early in your career. Mention accredited degrees and strong module or project marks for graduate roles.
Technical skills, software and tickets
List CAD, simulation and analysis tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA, ANSYS, MATLAB), methods (FMEA, Lean, Six Sigma, root cause analysis), standards you work to, and site or safety qualifications such as SMSTS, IOSH, CSCS or 18th Edition where relevant.
Technical skills
- 3D CAD (SolidWorks, CATIA, Inventor)
- 2D drafting (AutoCAD) and GD&T
- FEA and simulation (ANSYS, Abaqus)
- MATLAB, Python or LabVIEW
- Test planning and data analysis
- PLC and control systems awareness
Engineering methods
- DFMEA and PFMEA
- Root cause analysis (8D, 5 Whys)
- Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma
- Design for manufacture and assembly
- Requirements and verification
- Risk assessment and CDM
Professional skills
- Technical report writing
- Project and budget management
- Supplier and contractor management
- Mentoring junior engineers
- Stakeholder communication
Apprentice / graduate engineer
MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduate (First) with a 12-month placement in power distribution, where I designed test procedures and analysed protection relay data. Confident with MATLAB, Python and AutoCAD Electrical, and an IET student member working towards IEng. Looking for a graduate engineering scheme in energy or infrastructure.
Project or design engineer
Project engineer with six years delivering capital projects of up to £3m in food and drink manufacturing. I manage scope, budgets, contractors and commissioning under CDM 2015, and have delivered 20+ projects on time with no reportable safety incidents. Holder of SMSTS and the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification.
Chartered / senior engineer
Chartered Engineer (CEng MIMechE) and engineering manager with 18 years in automotive and off-highway manufacturing. I lead a team of 25 engineers, have launched 12 new products worth £30m in annual sales, and have built a graduate scheme that has helped six engineers achieve professional registration.
- Quantify every technical achievement. Replace "improved the process" with the figure: OEE up from 64% to 81%, scrap down £400k a year, design lead time cut by 20%. Numbers are what engineering managers remember.
- Name the standards and tools. Engineering recruiters and applicant tracking systems search for specific software, standards and methods, so write "SolidWorks", "ISO 9001" or "PFMEA" rather than "CAD" or "quality systems".
- Tailor to the discipline and sector. A rail systems role and a food manufacturing role want different evidence. Reorder your bullets so the most relevant projects and standards appear first for each application.
- Show your route to registration. Include your professional institution membership and where you are on the path to EngTech, IEng or CEng. It signals commitment and helps employers running accredited development schemes.
- Keep it to two pages. Two pages is standard for UK engineering CVs. Move extra project detail to a portfolio or LinkedIn and keep the CV focused on your strongest, most relevant work.
How long should an engineering CV be?+
Two A4 pages is the norm for an engineering CV in the UK. Graduates and apprentices can often fit everything onto one page, while senior and chartered engineers should keep to two pages and summarise older roles briefly rather than adding a third page.
Should I put CEng or IEng after my name on a CV?+
Yes. If you are registered with the Engineering Council, add the post-nominals after your name or job title, for example "CEng MIMechE" or "IEng MIET", and list the registration under qualifications with the year. Only use designations you currently hold and keep membership up to date.
How do I write an engineering CV with no experience?+
Lead with education and projects. Describe your final-year and group design projects like jobs, with the problem, your role, the tools used and the result. Add placements, Formula Student, Engineers Without Borders, part-time technical work, apprenticeships and any practical skills such as machining, welding or electronics.
Should I include a photo on my engineering CV?+
No. UK engineering employers do not expect a photo, and leaving it out, along with your date of birth and marital status, avoids any risk of bias. Use the space for technical skills, projects and measurable results instead, and save photos for your LinkedIn profile.
What software should I list on an engineering CV?+
List the tools named in the job advert first, then others you can use confidently. Common examples include SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA, Inventor, ANSYS, MATLAB, Python, Minitab and Microsoft Project. Be honest about your level, as many interviews include a technical test or CAD exercise.
Is an engineering CV different for graduate schemes?+
Many large UK graduate schemes use online application forms, but most still ask for a CV or will expect one at assessment centre stage. For graduate roles, put education first, include degree modules and project marks, and show evidence of the competencies employers assess, such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication.
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