How to Write a Resume for an Electrical Engineer

Introduction

Electrical engineering is a highly technical, detail-oriented field that spans power systems, electronics, control systems, telecommunications, embedded systems, and more. Whether you are targeting roles in utilities, manufacturing, R&D, automation, or consumer electronics, your resume must prove that you can design, analyze, test, and implement reliable electrical solutions.

A generic engineering resume is rarely enough. Hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) look for specific tools, standards, and project outcomes that match their job description. A tailored electrical engineer resume highlights the right mix of technical skills, industry experience, and measurable achievements so you stand out quickly in a competitive market.

Key Skills for an Electrical Engineer Resume

Core Technical Skills

Showcase technical competencies that align with your target roles. Group them logically (e.g., design tools, programming, hardware, standards) to make them easy to scan.

• Electrical design and analysis (analog and digital circuits)
• Power systems (generation, transmission, distribution)
• Control systems and automation (PID, PLC, SCADA)
• Embedded systems and microcontrollers (ARM, PIC, AVR)
• PCB design and layout (Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD)
• Electronic simulation tools (SPICE, LTspice, PSpice, Multisim)
• CAD and drafting (AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, SolidWorks Electrical)
• Programming and scripting (C/C++, Python, MATLAB/Simulink, VHDL/Verilog)
• Power electronics (inverters, converters, motor drives)
• Signal processing and communications (filters, modulation, RF basics)
• Testing and measurement (oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analyzers)
• Industrial standards and codes (NEC, IEC, IEEE, UL, NFPA 70E)
• Reliability, safety, and grounding practices

Soft Skills and Professional Competencies

Employers want electrical engineers who can collaborate, communicate, and manage complex projects. Highlight these skills with examples in your experience section.

• Problem-solving and root cause analysis
• Attention to detail and documentation accuracy
• Project management and time management
• Cross-functional collaboration with mechanical, software, and manufacturing teams
• Technical communication (reports, specifications, presentations)
• Stakeholder management (clients, vendors, internal teams)
• Continuous improvement and learning mindset
• Safety awareness and compliance focus

Formatting Tips for an Electrical Engineer Resume

Overall Layout and Length

Use a clean, professional format that highlights your technical depth without overwhelming the reader.

• Length: 1 page for early-career (0–7 years), up to 2 pages for experienced engineers.
• Margins: 0.5–1 inch; font size 10–12 pt for body text, 12–14 pt for headings.
• Fonts: Use simple, ATS-friendly fonts (e.g., Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman).
• File type: Submit as PDF unless the job posting specifically requests Word.

Header

Your header should make it easy to contact you and immediately signal your professional identity.

• Include: Full name, city/state, phone, professional email, LinkedIn URL, portfolio or GitHub (if relevant).
• Add a title aligned with the job: “Electrical Engineer – Power Systems” or “Embedded Electrical Engineer.”

Professional Summary

Replace a generic objective with a concise, tailored summary that matches the job description.

• 2–4 lines summarizing your years of experience, key domains, and signature strengths.
• Include keywords from the posting (e.g., “low-voltage distribution,” “PLC programming,” “MATLAB modeling”).

Example: “Licensed Electrical Engineer with 6+ years of experience designing low- and medium-voltage power distribution systems for industrial facilities. Proven track record in load flow analysis, protective device coordination, and NEC-compliant installations. Proficient in ETAP, AutoCAD Electrical, and NFPA 70E safety standards.”

Experience Section

Focus on impact, not just responsibilities. Use bullet points that start with strong action verbs and quantify results where possible.

• Format: Job Title | Company | City, State | Dates (Month/Year – Month/Year).
• 3–7 bullet points per role, prioritizing recent and relevant experience.
• Highlight design work, analysis, testing, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Include tools, standards, and methods used (e.g., “Performed short-circuit studies using ETAP”).

Example bullet: “Designed and implemented a motor control center upgrade for a manufacturing line, reducing downtime by 18% and improving energy efficiency by 9% through optimized VFD selection and load balancing.”

Education Section

Education is critical, especially early in your career.

• List degree, major (e.g., B.S. in Electrical Engineering), university, location, and graduation date.
• Add GPA if 3.3+ and early in your career.
• Include relevant coursework (e.g., Power Systems Analysis, Digital Signal Processing, Control Systems) if you have limited experience.

Skills and Additional Sections

Use a dedicated “Skills” section to ensure ATS and hiring managers can quickly see your technical strengths.

• Group skills into categories: “Design Tools,” “Programming,” “Testing & Measurement,” “Standards & Compliance.”
• Optional sections: “Certifications,” “Projects,” “Publications,” “Professional Memberships” (e.g., IEEE).

Highlighting Technical Projects and Design Work

Why a Project-Focused Section Matters

Electrical engineering roles are judged heavily on your ability to design, analyze, and troubleshoot real systems. A dedicated “Projects” or “Design Experience” section is especially powerful for students, recent graduates, career changers, and R&D-focused engineers.

What to Include in Project Descriptions

For each project, emphasize your role, tools used, and measurable outcomes.

• Project title and context: Senior design project, capstone, internship, personal project, or client work.
• Objective: What problem were you solving? (e.g., “Design a low-cost solar inverter for off-grid applications.”)
• Technical scope: Key components, topologies, and methods (e.g., “buck-boost converter, MPPT algorithm, microcontroller-based control”).
• Tools and technologies: Simulation software, CAD tools, programming languages, test equipment.
• Results: Efficiency achieved, power rating, accuracy, reliability, cost reduction, or standards met.

Example project entry:

3 kW Grid-Tied Solar Inverter – Senior Design Project

• Designed and simulated a 3 kW single-phase grid-tied inverter using MATLAB/Simulink and PSpice, achieving 94% peak efficiency.
• Implemented MPPT control on a TI microcontroller using C, improving energy harvest by 12% compared to baseline.
• Validated design through lab testing with oscilloscopes and power analyzers, ensuring compliance with IEEE 1547 guidelines.

Where to Place Projects

• Early-career: Place “Projects” above “Experience” to showcase technical capability.
• Experienced: Integrate major projects into your “Experience” section or add a short “Selected Projects” section.

Showcasing Licenses, Certifications, and Standards Knowledge

Licensure and Certifications

Credentials can differentiate you in a crowded field, especially for roles in power, construction, and consulting.

• FE (EIT) License: List as “Engineer-in-Training (EIT), State, Year.”
• PE License: “Licensed Professional Engineer (Electrical), State, License #, Year.”
• Relevant certifications:
  • PLC/Automation (e.g., Siemens, Rockwell)
  • Power systems tools (e.g., ETAP, SKM PowerTools)
  • Networking/communications (e.g., Cisco, industrial Ethernet)
  • Safety (e.g., OSHA, NFPA 70E training)

Place a “Licenses & Certifications” section near the top if the role strongly emphasizes licensure, such as consulting or utility positions.

Industry Standards and Compliance

Demonstrating familiarity with relevant codes and standards builds trust with employers, especially in regulated industries.

• Power and building systems: NEC, NFPA 70E, IEEE standards, IEC standards.
• Industrial and automation: IEC 61131, ISA standards, machine safety standards.
• Product design and electronics: UL, CE, RoHS, EMC/EMI standards.

In your experience bullets, show how you applied these standards:

• “Developed low-voltage distribution drawings compliant with NEC and local codes for a 200,000 sq. ft. facility.”
• “Ensured UL and CE compliance for a new embedded control unit, collaborating with test labs to resolve EMC issues.”

Tailoring Strategies for Electrical Engineer Roles

Analyze the Job Description

Before applying, identify the employer’s priorities and mirror them in your resume.

• Highlight domain focus: power systems, electronics, embedded, automation, renewable energy, automotive, aerospace, etc.
• Underline required tools and technologies: ETAP, AutoCAD Electrical, MATLAB, PLC brands, PCB tools, etc.
• Note specific standards: NEC, IEC 61850, IEEE 1584, UL, ISO standards.

Match Keywords and Reorder Content

• Use the same terminology as the posting (e.g., “low-voltage switchgear” vs. “LV panels”) to pass ATS filters.
• Reorder your skills so the most relevant appear first (e.g., PLC/SCADA for an automation role, RF and signal integrity for a communications role).
• Move the most relevant projects and experiences higher on the page.

Quantify Achievements in Relevant Areas

Tailor your bullet points to emphasize outcomes that align with the role’s focus.

• Power/utility roles: mention load studies, fault analysis, system reliability, outage reduction, and capacity planning.
• Electronics/embedded roles: highlight power consumption, performance improvements, BOM cost reduction, and product reliability.
• Automation/manufacturing roles: emphasize downtime reduction, throughput improvements, and process optimization.

Common Mistakes on Electrical Engineer Resumes

Being Too Generic or Vague

Avoid broad statements like “responsible for electrical design” without details. Specify what you designed, tools used, and results achieved.

Listing Tools Without Context

Simply listing “MATLAB, AutoCAD, PLCs” in a skills section is not enough. Show how you used them:

• “Performed harmonic analysis in MATLAB to mitigate THD in a variable frequency drive system.”
• “Developed ladder logic for Allen-Bradley PLCs to control a packaging line with 40+ I/O points.”

Overloading with Jargon and Acronyms

Technical detail is important, but your resume should still be readable to non-specialist recruiters. Spell out acronyms at least once and avoid overly dense, multi-line bullet points.

Ignoring Safety and Compliance

Electrical engineering is safety-critical. Neglecting to mention safety practices, standards, and testing can be a red flag. Include references to grounding, PPE, lockout/tagout, risk assessments, and relevant codes where appropriate.

Not Showing Measurable Impact

Whenever possible, quantify your contributions:

• “Reduced energy consumption by 10% through optimization of motor control parameters.”
• “Cut troubleshooting time by 30% by implementing standardized test procedures.”

Poor Formatting and Organization

Cluttered layouts, inconsistent dates, and misaligned bullet points can undermine your professionalism. Keep formatting consistent, use clear headings, and ensure the most important information appears in the top half of the first page.

Omitting Early-Career Projects and Labs

Students and recent graduates sometimes leave out valuable lab work and academic projects. If you lack industry experience, detailed project descriptions can demonstrate practical skills and familiarity with real-world tools and methods.

Final Thoughts

A strong electrical engineer resume balances technical depth with clarity and measurable impact. By emphasizing relevant skills, showcasing projects and design work, highlighting certifications and standards, and tailoring each application to the specific role, you significantly increase your chances of landing interviews. Treat your resume as an evolving technical document—update it regularly as you complete new projects, learn new tools, and take on greater responsibility in your electrical engineering career.