18 Engineering Manager Resume Examples

As an engineering manager, you stay current with the latest technologies and know how to keep a team organized and working smoothly.

You understand Agile SDLC methodologies well enough to lead engineering teams to success, but the challenge is showing that value to potential employers.

Recruiters review countless resumes from qualified candidates who are familiar with modern technology stacks, so yours needs to stand out.

A strong engineering manager resume does more than list the frontend and backend tools you have used.

With this guide, you can create a resume that makes an impression and helps you land interviews.

How to write a great engineering manager resume

Strong engineering managers need sharp engineering and technology skills, along with exceptional leadership and communication abilities.

Hiring managers look for candidates who can lead people while also holding technical discussions with their teams.

Your resume should show those strengths through concise, engaging sections.

Recruiters will most likely spend less than 8 seconds reviewing your resume, so use that time wisely.

Focus on what matters most and leave out anything irrelevant.

Here are some of the top qualities recruiters look for in an engineering manager resume.

Keep these qualities in mind as we move into the first section of your resume.

What to include in an engineering manager resume header

Your header is a simple but important part of your resume. The information is minimal, but even the smallest detail matters.

Your header is your first introduction to a recruiter. If it does not make a good impression, your resume may be rejected before the rest is even reviewed.

So which details matter most? Let’s look at a few examples and break down each part.

2 engineering manager resume header examples

What’s Not Working

• Unprofessional email address
• Full address for location
• No link to a portfolio or LinkedIn profile

Your resume email address should look professional. A simple combination of your first and last name with a well-known provider is usually the best choice.

Listing your full street address is outdated. Most communication now happens online, so recruiters do not need your complete mailing address. Including just your city and state is enough.

You should also add your LinkedIn URL or a link to an online portfolio in your header. Hiring managers often want to review your background more closely before making an offer, especially for higher-level roles.

Let’s make a few adjustments and take another look.

What’s working:

• Customized job title
• Includes LinkedIn URL
• Email address is simple and professional

This header is a big improvement because it includes all the necessary information and nothing more.

If your experience in a specific industry matches your target role, customizing your job title can give you an advantage. Recruiters can immediately see your industry-specific background before they read the rest of your resume.

Only do this if you have real experience in that industry. Lying on your resume will not help you.

Show your value in a strong engineering manager summary

Once your engineering manager resume header is in place, the next step is your summary.

This is your first chance to introduce yourself beyond basic contact details, so make it count. A strong header can attract attention, but a weak summary can quickly lose it.

Writing a summary can be difficult, but the goal is simple: prove your value in the industry in 2-3 concise sentences.

A useful formula is to summarize your title and experience, highlight a key achievement, and explain why you are the right candidate for the job.

If you are still unsure, let’s look at a few examples.

2 engineering manager resume summary examples

What’s not working

• Uses broad terms and general descriptions
• No specific examples of success
• Not tailored to the job description

This summary is so vague that it tells us almost nothing about the candidate.

Terms like “passion” and “highly successful” are filler words that do not say much. Instead, use real and specific examples of success supported by data and figures.

Every section of your resume should be targeted to the job you are applying for. Using keywords from the job description shows that you did not write a generic resume to send to every hiring manager.

Be thoughtful with the key phrases and words you choose. Recruiters can spot a copy-and-paste resume quickly and may throw it out.

Let’s fix this summary and try again.

What’s working:

• Uses industry-specific terms
• Cites specific accomplishments with real numbers
• Shows how the candidate can impact the target company

Hiring managers want to know how the person they hire will contribute to company success.

Using specific examples helps employers see the results you brought to previous organizations.

Research your target company to understand what it needs, then use your summary to show how you can provide solutions.

This approach shows why the relationship would be mutually beneficial and how the candidate’s goals align with the company’s goals.

Now that you have a strong summary, it’s time to focus on your experience section.

What recruiters want to see on your engineering manager resume experience section

The experience section is the core of your engineering manager resume.

It should tell the story of your work history and show why you’re the right person for the role.

Recruiters want to see that you can manage a team of engineers and that you have a strong working knowledge of their tech stack.

Most importantly, the bullets you write for previous roles should focus on specific accomplishments rather than general duties.

Recruiters already know what an engineering manager does. They want to see what you achieved in the role.

Let’s look at an example.

2 engineering manager resume experience examples

What’s not working

• Lists generic responsibilities without specific achievements
• Is not tailored to the job description
• Does not include industry-specific terms or programs

If you have experience with specific software or other systems used in your target role, be sure to include it.

Be specific about your accomplishments and do not leave recruiters to make assumptions.

Let’s make some improvements and take another look.

What’s working:

• Uses industry terms like RESTful and GraphQL APIs
• Cites specific numbers and figures
• Lists an award for a relevant skill

Much better. This example includes all the elements of a strong experience section.

Include any awards or recognition that are relevant to your target job. They help support your claim that you’re a good fit for the role.

You may also have projects, publications, or volunteer experience that demonstrate your qualifications.

If they don’t fit naturally into your work experience, consider adding other sections to your engineering manager resume.

How to include skills on your engineering manager resume

Your skills section is a good place to highlight the tech skills you bring to an engineering manager role.

Because engineering often requires knowledge of emerging technologies, it can be helpful to include technical, software, and programming skills, especially if you work with tools used in niche engineering industries like security, outside plant, or industrial engineering.

At the same time, this is a management position, so recruiters also want to see that you can lead teams and manage projects. Soft skills matter just as much as hard skills.

If you’ve built up a long list of skills over time, avoid overcrowding your resume. Focus on the ones that are most relevant to your target job.

Don’t list any tech skills unless you’re 100% confident in them. If the interview includes an entry task, you don’t want to be caught claiming a skill you don’t actually have.

Below is a list of technical skills you may want to consider adding to your engineering manager resume skills section.

Soft skills can be harder to define, so they usually need more explanation on your resume.

Recruiters will not simply take your word for it, so support your soft skills with clear evidence.

You can highlight soft skills throughout your experience section, but it can also help to give your top 2-4 soft skills their own section.

This can catch a recruiter’s attention and help you stand out from other candidates. See the example below.

How to describe soft skills on your engineering manager resume

This candidate added a strengths section to highlight their top soft skills, with each skill backed by an example.

Study your target role to identify which soft skills matter most.

Here are a few additional soft skills to consider including on an engineering manager resume.

The skills section can help your resume perform better with ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), which essentially scans your resume for keywords.

To improve your odds, study the job description and include the keywords recruiters are looking for.

What to include in your education section

The education section of your resume should be fairly basic. The more experience you have, the less detail you need to include.

Most engineering management positions require at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a directly related field, such as mechanical engineering, systems engineering, computer science, or computer engineering.

Some roles may also require a master’s degree in engineering, engineering management, or a related field.

In some cases, employers may accept a combination of education and experience.

A typical education section includes:

• Name of school
• Name of degree
• Years attended

There is usually no need to include a GPA or relevant coursework, since that mainly benefits recent graduates seeking entry-level positions.

After adding your education section, consider including a certification section.

Should I include certifications on my resume?

Not all engineering management roles require certifications.

However, depending on your industry and target company, they can give you an advantage.

If you are trying to move into a different industry and do not have much related experience, a specialized certificate can help show commitment to your career and a willingness to learn.

If you want something more specific to engineering management, certifications are available in that area.

Below is a list of certifications to consider adding to your engineering manager resume.