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Controls engineer resume examples for 2025

Zippi

Build a better controls engineer resume with Zippi, your AI resume builder robot.

Updated March 26, 2025
6 min read
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How to write a controls engineer resume

Craft a resume summary statement

A well-written resume summary is basically an elevator pitch. You are summing up your skills and experience in a few sentences to wow recruiters, hiring managers, and decision makers into giving you an interview. Here are some tips to putting your best foot first with your resume summary:

Step 1: Start with your current job title, or the one you aspire to. Are you a passionate manager? A skilled analyst? It's a good starting point.

Step 2: Next put your years of experience in controls engineer-related roles.

Step 3: Now is the time to put your biggest accomplishment or something you are professionally proud of.

Step 4: Read over what you have written. It should be 2-4 sentences. Your goal is to summarize your experience, not recite your resume.

These four steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some controls engineer interviews.

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List the right project manager skills

Use your Skills section to show you have the knowledge and technical ability to do the job. Here is how to make the most of your skills section and make sure you have the right keywords:

  1. You often need to include the exact keywords from the job description in your resume. Look at the job listing and consider which of the listed skills you have experience with, along with related skills.
  2. Include as many relevant hard skills and soft skills as possible from the listing.
  3. Use the most up to date and accurate terms. Don't forget to be specific.
These five steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some controls engineer interviews.

Here are example skills to include in your “Area of Expertise” on a controls engineer resume:

  • C++
  • Troubleshoot
  • UL
  • Hmi Programming
  • MATLAB
  • Simulink
  • Project Management
  • PLC/HMI
  • Ladder Logic
  • Technical Support
  • Electrical Controls
  • Servo
  • Process Control
  • Control System Design
  • FANUC
  • Ethernet
  • CAD
  • AC
  • Electrical Schematics
  • Automation Systems
  • Autocad Electrical
  • NEC
  • Wonderware
  • Electrical Design
  • ControlLogix
  • Vision Systems
  • HVAC
  • Java
  • Allen-Bradley Plc
  • FactoryTalk

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How to structure your work experience

A work experience section is a vital part of your resume because it shows you have the experience to succeed in your next job.

  1. Put your most recent experience first. Prospective employers care about your most recent accomplishments the most.
  2. Put the job title, company name, city, and state on the left. Align dates in month and year format on the right-hand side.
  3. Include only recent, relevant jobs. This means if you're a fairly experienced worker, you might need to leave off that first internship or other positions in favor of highlighting more pertinent positions.

How to write controls engineer experience bullet points

Your resume is not a list of responsibilities or a job description. Instead, it is your chance to show your accomplishments and show why you're good at what you do.

  • Use the What, How, and Why format. Answering these questions turns a bland job description into an effective showcase of your abilities.
  • What were your responsibilities or goals?
  • How did you accomplish them?
  • Why were your results important? (How did it impact your company? Can you quantify the results in numbers? )

Here are great bullet points from controls engineer resumes:

Work history example #1

Project Engineer Internship

Lockheed Martin

  • Developed prototype for Chaparral missile launcher.
  • Led engineering reviews for DoD and DOE flight test vehicles, created system specifications, and conducted verification activities.
  • Interfaced with Engineering, I&T, QC and customer on subcontractor issues for problem resolution.
  • Performed Electromagnetic Interference calculations using MATLAB.
  • Maintained electronic database ensuring hundreds of repairable and consumable items were in stock and maintenance that was performed was documented properly.

Work history example #2

Engineering Trainee

General Electric

  • Designed and implemented Kaizen lean manufacturing part storage solution.
  • Participated on a cross-functional team that developed floor plans and work cells for control manufacturing facility
  • Applied the Six Sigma tool, Stable Operations, to help stabilize and increase output of magnetic wire for transformers.
  • Utilized Microsoft PowerPoint to create bin labels for the individual parts located in the assembly area.
  • Created Python test scripts to automate testing of the CANBUS hardware present in Storage Control Units for the P-8 Poseidon.

Work history example #3

Design Engineer Internship

McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Sys

  • Evaluated design and support data at PDR's and CDR's.
  • Performed preliminary layouts for new version of ACES II for the F-22, supporting Lockheed Martin for upgrades to mock-up seats.
  • Executed design flow from creating design specification, RTL coding to synthesis and verification.
  • Coordinated with suppliers on purchased part specifications, performance, and packaging requirements.
  • Utilized SolidWorks to create custom detailed mechanical designs.

Work history example #4

Project Engineer Internship

Harrison Steel Castings Co

  • Updated AutoCAD drawings, and created SolidWorks assembly and weld drawings from models to be used as production assembly drawings.
  • Performed as-built drawings and submitted to engineering for approval.
  • Prepared monthly reports and maintain monthly submittals for Stakeholders.
  • Recognized for functional and user-friendly Excel spreadsheets & visually appealing and attention grabbing PowerPoint presentations.
  • Used Datatech sample table & Designers Workbench (ArtiosCAD program).

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Add an education section to your resume

The education section should display your highest degree first.

Place your education section appropriately on your resume. If you graduated over 5 years ago, this section should be at the bottom of your resume. If you just graduated and lack relevant work experience, the education section should go to the top.

If you have a bachelor's or master's degree, do not list your high school education. If your graduation year is more than 15-20 years ago, it's better not to include dates in this section.

Here are some examples of good education entries for resumes:

Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering

University of Maryland - College Park, College Park, MD

2006 - 2009

Highlight your controls engineer certifications on your resume

Certifications are a great way to showcase special expertise or niche skills. Some jobs even require certifications to be hired.

To list, use the full name of the certification and the organization that issued it, along with the date of achievement.

If you have any of these certifications, be sure to include them on your controls engineer resume:

  1. Engineer In Training Certification (EIT)
  2. Electric Vehicle Technician (EVT)
  3. Project Management Professional (PMP)
  4. Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD)

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