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Mechanical engineering manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Charles Jenckes,

Dr. John Ballato

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical mechanical engineering manager skills. We ranked the top skills for mechanical engineering managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.6% of mechanical engineering manager resumes contained cad as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a mechanical engineering manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 mechanical engineering manager skills for your resume and career

1. CAD

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use cad:

Upgraded the technical capabilities in areas including acoustics measurement technology, CAD and finite element analysis.
Managed the technical growth of a group performing mechanical design, CAD solid modeling, and finite element analysis.

2. Mechanical Design

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use mechanical design:

Reviewed and evaluated mechanical design drawings and specifications prepared by consulting engineers.
Managed an engineering department consisting of Mechanical Engineers and Mechanical Designers.

3. Solidworks

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use solidworks:

Prepared detailed fabrication and assembly drawings using SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
Created documentation using SolidWorks to manufacture prototype and production components.

4. Project Management

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use project management:

Project Management of the design process included proposal activity, analysis, documentation and troubleshooting.
Project management and custom manufacturing equipment design for semi conductor and electronics industry.

5. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use continuous improvement:

Manage parts inventory with continuing reduction of inventory cost, providing continuous process improvement through industry trends, and analysis.
Managed the continuous improvement process and insured compliance with applicable codes and specifications.

6. Mechanical Systems

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use mechanical systems:

Performed field surveys of existing conditions of building mechanical systems.
Completed the design of the Mechanical Systems at Rodriguez Child Development Center, Ft. Bragg.

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7. 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 mechanical engineering managers use fea:

Eliminated design iterations by utilizing FEA simulation, identifying design risk early in development process and implementing virtual fixes.
Performed FEA of critical components and verified design compliance across local, national, and international standards.

8. Mechanical Engineering Design

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use mechanical engineering design:

Managed development of and maintained mechanical engineering design standards and work practices across all projects.
Helped define mechanical engineering design requirements and processes.

9. HVAC

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use hvac:

Selected HVAC equipment such as boilers, chillers, cooling towers, air handling units and roof top units.
Performed audits of existing HVAC equipment in Hotels, Hospitals, Medical Centers, Schools, and Office buildings.

10. Direct Reports

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use direct reports:

Scheduled the activity for and managed internal direct reports as well as managed work done by outside contractors.
Managed as direct reports, a cross functional team of engineers, designers and technicians.

11. UL

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use ul:

Worked with and implemented the UL, CSE, CE, SEMI Standards.
Full agency compliance UL, FCC and CE for product.

12. Performance Reviews

Performance reviews refer to the official evaluation of a worker's performance done by the manager. The evaluation then helps the superior identify the worker's strengths and weaknesses and offers valuable feedback to help him overcome his shortcomings. This assessment also helps a worker set a future goal for himself and identify ways to better his future performance. Performance Reviews may be done on a monthly or yearly basis, depending on the company.

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use performance reviews:

Managed 12 engineering professionals relative to multiple projects and career performance reviews.
Authored and presented annual performance reviews to subordinates.

13. 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 mechanical engineering managers use design reviews:

Chaired many product technical design reviews within the mechanical engineering team and across the organization.
Implemented integrated team project design reviews within engineering group.

14. Structural Analysis

A structural analysis is a type of method or process determining the condition and situation of a particular structure. Engineers, architect and other related professional often use it to study and review the behavior, dynamics, issues, and failures encountered during a project. It is the key to engineering design structure that identifies the system's performance and integrity and its effect. The purpose of the analysis is to assess the stresses, deformations, acceleration, internal forces, and stability.

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use structural analysis:

Utilized multiple blueprints to validate the structural analysis and cost analysis data provided by other team members.
Utilized thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, vibration calculations, strength of materials, and structural analysis.

15. Plumbing

Here's how mechanical engineering managers use plumbing:

Created construction documents and written specifications for mechanical and plumbing projects.
Reviewed plumbing design for kitchen and cafeteria for the school to meet current and future needs of the project.

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What skills help Mechanical Engineering Managers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on mechanical engineering manager 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 hard/technical skills are most important for mechanical engineering managers?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

Important hard/technical skills really depend on the nature of the job/position and the organization. This really relates back to the What Skills Stand Out question. Employers want to know that employees have the requisite "toolbox" of basic skills and a willingness and aptitude to learn on the job. No person comes out of school with all the skills and experiences needed for a given job, so organizations inevitably continue to provide training on product-specific skills. Knowing how to learn, wanting to learn, and admitting what you don't know are as important, if not more so, than any hard/technical skills one gains during their education.

What soft skills should all mechanical engineering managers possess?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

To me, the most important soft skill has always been communication. And, due to the pandemic where people have had to isolate and possibly quarantine, effective communications are even that much more critical. We're spending less face-to-face time and more screen-to-screen time, which gets boring quickly. So, paying attention, being clear and concise in your communications since you don't have the opportunities as often now to simply walk into someone's lab or office and talk through ideas and next steps. Effective communications are also especially important in materials science and engineering because our field is innately interdisciplinary. This means that you might be the only materials scientist on a team that includes marketing, sales, manufacturing, etc. Knowing your audience, including your project team, and learning how to communicate with them is critical.

What mechanical engineering manager 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 mechanical engineering managers 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.

What technical skills for a mechanical engineering manager stand out to employers?

Patrick Atkinson

Professor, Kettering University

Broadly speaking, employers are looking for employees who can jump in, take on a project and move things forward. Since engineers are data-driven, knowing how to read and interpret findings from a variety of sources is key. This can be very challenging if the data conflicts between sources or the data is unclear. Whether the data is from a mathematical model, a physical test laboratory, or from the field, learning how to synthesize the findings and balance the strengths/weaknesses of a given data source are key. At the end of the day, every project needs a way forward and it is the engineer's job to optimize a design to meet the objectives for the product.

Do you want to know more?

List of mechanical engineering manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a mechanical engineering manager resume and required skills for a mechanical engineering manager to have include:

CAD
Mechanical Design
Solidworks
Project Management
Continuous Improvement
Mechanical Systems
FEA
Mechanical Engineering Design
HVAC
Direct Reports
UL
Performance Reviews
Design Reviews
Structural Analysis
Plumbing
System Design

Technical Guidance
Product Development
Technical Support
Sigma
RF
Fire Protection
Mechanical Components
Cost Estimates
Test Equipment
DFMEA
Engineering Services
R
Prototyping
QC
Mechanical Equipment
Lifecycle Management

Thermal Analysis
Earned Value Management
ISO
MEP
Project Scope
FMEA
PDM
Management System
BOM
PLM
Customer Satisfaction
Product Line
CNC
Verification Testing
Pressure Vessels
Technical Issues

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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