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Machine design engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Charles Jenckes,

Bryant Harrison

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical machine design engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for machine design engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 21.4% of machine design engineer resumes contained solidworks as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a machine design engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 machine design engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Solidworks

Here's how machine design engineers use solidworks:

Machine design in SolidWorks 2017, design of parts, assembly's, drawings and assembly drawings.
Modeled conceptual layout in SolidWorks for a new design radial truck tire building machine.

2. Project Management

Here's how machine design engineers use project management:

Design project management responsibilities included designing, checking, directing and coordinating manufacturing and assembly of custom and standard machine systems.
Performed project management functions including overseeing the construction and dealing with outside vendors.

3. FEA

The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is software that can simulate physical phenomenon with the help of numerical procedures. FEA helps companies in developing better and cost-effective products by reducing the number of physical prototypes.

Here's how machine design engineers use fea:

Performed duties, including CAD modeling, FEA, manufacturing quality control inspections, and product training.
Completed first successful solid model of a cylinder head design for importation to FEA software.

4. Autocad

Here's how machine design engineers use autocad:

Designed parts and assemblies using drafting tools such as Solid Works and AutoCAD.
Design of fixtures and automated machines in AutoCAD ($250K programs).

5. GD

GD refers to Grade Delay and is often mentioned on report cards or academic records when the instructor of a particular subject decides to hold the grade of a student. This is usually done if the instructor wants the student to improve their grade by retaking the exam or doing something for extra credit that will ultimately enhance their overall grade. Eventually, when the grade is assigned, the GD is then replaced with the original grade.

Here's how machine design engineers use gd:

Created drawings using computer aided design techniques and ASME Y14.5M GD & T drafting standards and generated materials lists.
Position required interfacing with customers and suppliers, data translation, data management and creation of drawings utilizing GD &T.

6. PLC

Here's how machine design engineers use plc:

Sourced PLC programmers, electrical engineers, hydraulic hose source and painters as required.
Generate Allen Bradley and Texas Instrument PLC machine control logic/programs.

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7. Robotic

Robotics is a branch of engineering and technology involving the conception, design, construction, operation, and use of robots to assist and/or substitute human efforts and actions.

Here's how machine design engineers use robotic:

Conceptualized, designed, and developed machines and robotic systems to reduce operating cost, and improve production in manufacturing environments.
Guided the fabrication and installation of mechanical, electric, robotic, hydraulic, and pneumatic machines for the production department.

8. Assembly Line

Assembly line is a process used in industries to ensure the production of products in a cost effective manner by dividing up the responsibilities of each labor. Assembly lines enabled industries to hire more workers, therefore providing more employment opportunities to labors. This is possible because in this process the burden of all the tasks related to production are not laid on a single person, they are divided into small baby steps for each labor.

Here's how machine design engineers use assembly line:

Managed assembly lines and production providing hands-on leadership to non-English-speaking staff.
Developed manufacturing tools to enhance worker safety and assembly line output.

9. Design Concepts

Here's how machine design engineers use design concepts:

Presented power point presentations of improved design concepts to directors of engineering and marketing for cost reduction projects.
Collaborated with internal customers and engineers to design concepts for machines.

10. Mechanical Systems

Here's how machine design engineers use mechanical systems:

Designed and analyzed various components and mechanical systems for Caterpillar (CAT) engines.
Worked closely with Electrical and System Engineers, designing power distribution systems, control systems and numerous other mechanical/electrical systems.

11. Design Reviews

A dеѕіgn review іѕ a mіlеѕtоnе wіthіn a рrоduсt dеvеlорmеnt рrосеѕѕ іn whісh a design іѕ evaluated bаѕеd on іtѕ rеԛuіrеmеntѕ. Thе рurроѕе of dеѕіgn rеvіеwѕ іѕ tо examine thе overall design or a ѕресіfіс аѕресt оf a dеѕіgn аt еасh ѕtаgе of the development оf a nеw оr еxіѕtіng рrоduсt.

Here's how machine design engineers use design reviews:

Host design reviews based on original 3D conceptual design with respect to automated manufacturing processes.
Travel to customer site for field work, design reviews and installation of machines.

12. Assembly Process

Here's how machine design engineers use assembly process:

Implemented machining and assembly processes for conventional machine tool modifications.
Introduced closed-loop control to assembly process.

13. Production Equipment

Production equipment in limited terms is used to define any type of machinery or equipment used in the production of a video or film. Basic production equipment includes a camera, tripod, lighting kit, camera light, short term microphone, light reflector, boom pole, shock mount, audio cables, wireless microphone, headphones, portable digital audio recorder, camera lenses, extra batteries, external hard drive, and DSLR shoulder mount rig.

Here's how machine design engineers use production equipment:

Design production equipment, leak tester, improve waste treatment, etc.Plant Engineering Manager Oversaw all equipment changes were designed and implemented
Design and develop specifications of production equipment to support manufacturing.

14. Assembly Drawings

Here's how machine design engineers use assembly drawings:

Drafted design layouts, detail and assembly drawings for controllers, printed circuits, induction heaters, and metal forming machines.
Developed drawings of piece parts and assembly drawings.

15. Machine Components

Here's how machine design engineers use machine components:

Design new and redesign existing machine components and assemblies for thread rolling and knurling machines.
Worked with Concept Engineers to prototype and test various machine components.

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What skills help Machine Design Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on machine design engineer resumes?

Charles Jenckes

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

For new graduates
1.Where the candidate went to school and what was studied
2.GPA
3.Any successful internships
4.Projects completed by the student

What soft skills should all machine design engineers possess?

Bryant Harrison

Instructor, Murray State University

Engineers are constantly working with a variety of people on a project. These people could be other engineers in the same department or other departments, managers, stakeholders, and customers. The ability to communicate both on a technical and non-technical level with these people is likely the most important soft skill for a design engineer.

What hard/technical skills are most important for machine design engineers?

Bryant Harrison

Instructor, Murray State University

Designing, prototyping, testing, and iterating are likely the most important skills for a design engineer. This is what we strive to teach at Murray State in our Design Engineering Technology program. Many sub-skills would fall into these categories, such as CAD, design for manufacturing, 3D printing, and destructive/non-destructive testing.

What machine design engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Richard Onyancha

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Department Head, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

For students who would like to consider taking a gap year, depending on what their goals after graduation are, they could consider enhancing their skills in any of these areas:
- Technical hands-on skills such as CAD/CAM, simulation, design, and fabrication
- Global competency
- Public policy
- Job shadowing
- Preparing for and taking professional exams if, for example, considering medical school or law school

What type of skills will young machine design engineers need?

Andy Gerrick

Associate Professor and Chair, Embry-Riddle, Prescott

Most important is the ability to pull together the problem-solving skills learned in the different engineering courses to solve real-world, multidisciplinary, engineering problems. This requires a clear understanding of the problem and the requirements, and it requires a thorough understanding of engineering concepts. Memorizing problem solutions is of no value because no one will pay you to solve a problem that has already been solved. An engineer's ability to communicate is also extremely important. Engineering is a collaborative endeavor, so if you are not able to communicate your ideas, you are not contributing.

Do you want to know more?

List of machine design engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a machine design engineer resume and required skills for a machine design engineer to have include:

Solidworks
Project Management
FEA
Autocad
GD
PLC
Robotic
Assembly Line
Design Concepts
Mechanical Systems
Design Reviews
Assembly Process
Production Equipment
Assembly Drawings
Machine Components

ISO
CNC
Design Changes
R
Design Process
Machine Shop
Process Equipment
Control Systems
Design Software
Design Engineering
Auto CAD
Aided Design
Project Scope
Material Selection
OEM

Debugging
Machine Assembly
Assembly Equipment
Test Equipment
Cost Savings
BOM
Production Machines
Customer Sites
Production Lines
HVAC
Contract Positions
Automatic Assembly
HMI
ANSI

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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