"Engineer" covers everything from design to field service, so the first job of your CV is to say which kind you are. This example is for a multi-skilled maintenance engineer in food manufacturing, one of the most advertised engineering jobs in the UK. Design, electrical, civil and software engineers will find a closer example in the related links.
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Example engineer CV
A fictional person, employers and figures, to show the format. Replace every detail with your own.
Multi-skilled maintenance engineer with seven years' experience keeping high-speed food production lines running. Strong on mechanical and electrical fault-finding, PLC diagnostics and planned maintenance. Holds an HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and EngTech registration. Looking for a shift lead or reliability engineer role.
Fault-find mechanical, electrical and pneumatic issues on eight packing lines, on a four-on four-off shift pattern.
Diagnose Siemens and Allen-Bradley PLC faults, cutting average breakdown time on my shift.
Rewrote planned maintenance tasks for two lines after reviewing breakdown history, reducing repeat failures.
Lead root cause investigations on major stoppages and present fixes at the weekly engineering meeting.
Apprentice, then Maintenance Technician, Aire Valley Plastics, Leeds (Sep 2017 - Dec 2021)
Completed a Level 3 engineering maintenance apprenticeship.
Supported tool changes and preventive maintenance on injection moulding machines.
Education
HNC Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Leeds College of Building, 2021 - 2023
Level 3 Engineering Maintenance apprenticeship, Aire Valley Plastics with Leeds City College, 2017 - 2021
Training and certifications
EngTech registration, Engineering Council, 2024
18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671), City & Guilds, 2023
PLC programming and diagnostics (Siemens TIA Portal), Professional training provider, 2023
IOSH Working Safely, IOSH, 2022
Skills
Mechanical and electrical fault-finding, PLC diagnostics, Pneumatics and hydraulics, Planned preventive maintenance, Root cause analysis, CMMS, Safe isolation
An engineer personal statement to adapt
Multi-skilled maintenance engineer with seven years' experience keeping high-speed food production lines running. Strong on mechanical and electrical fault-finding, PLC diagnostics and planned maintenance. Holds an HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and EngTech registration. Looking for a shift lead or reliability engineer role.
Key skills for an engineer CV
Fault-finding - Mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic, with the equipment you know.
Controls and PLCs - Siemens, Allen-Bradley or other systems you can diagnose or program.
Planned maintenance - PPM schedules and the CMMS you use.
Root cause analysis - 5 Whys, fishbone or 8D, and the failures you stopped.
Safe working - Safe isolation, permits to work and risk assessments.
Technical drawings - Reading electrical and mechanical drawings.
Teamwork on shift - Handovers and working with production to keep lines running.
What a UK engineer CV needs
Your discipline in the first line - Maintenance, design, field service, controls, project, quality or test engineer.
Qualifications - Apprenticeship, HNC, HND or degree, and the subject.
Professional registration - EngTech, IEng or CEng through the Engineering Council and an institution such as IET or IMechE.
Safety tickets - 18th Edition, IOSH, CSCS, confined spaces or working at height, if your role needs them.
Shift pattern - Many maintenance roles are on shifts. Say what you work or can work.
Achievement bullets to adapt
The figures are invented to show the format. Use your own.
Fault-found mechanical, electrical and PLC issues on eight high-speed packing lines.
Rewrote planned maintenance for two lines, reducing repeat failures.
Led root cause investigations on major stoppages and presented fixes.
Completed a Level 3 engineering maintenance apprenticeship and an HNC.
Gained EngTech registration through a professional institution.
Engineer CV questions
What should an engineer put at the top of their CV?
Your discipline and level, such as "multi-skilled maintenance engineer" or "graduate civil engineer", then your key qualifications and registration.
What is EngTech?
Engineering Technician (EngTech) is a professional registration from the Engineering Council for technicians, awarded through institutions such as the IET or IMechE. IEng and CEng are the next levels.
Should I list every machine I have worked on?
No. Give the types of equipment and control systems that match the advert, and back them up with fault-finding or improvement examples.