Automatically apply for jobs with Zippi

Upload your resume to get started.

Principal mechanical 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 principal mechanical engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for principal mechanical engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.4% of principal mechanical engineer resumes contained mechanical engineering as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a principal mechanical engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 principal mechanical engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Mechanical Engineering

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use mechanical engineering:

Complete mechanical engineering responsibility in developing a small seven-axis robot to be used in the assembly of power supply modules.
Generated all estimates that encompassed mechanical engineering, material procurement, travel, and a DOT qualification test program.

2. CAD

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use cad:

Directed CAD database structure and management and implemented Pro/PDM Product Database Management computer software.
Directed documentation control, engineering services and implementing and managing CAD systems.

3. Mechanical Design

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use mechanical design:

Lead mechanical engineer responsible for mechanical designs and printed circuit board designs for space and military electronics.
Supervised and executed mechanical designs of base-build and base-bid-build projects related to military and DOE facilities.

4. Creo

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use creo:

Developed a self-taught fundamental knowledge of Creo
Designed close tolerance machine and sheet metal parts in CREO with Windchill, Intralink and Agile PLM.

5. DOD

Definition of Done (DoD) is a set of deliverables that are needed to devise software. These deliverables are valuable to the system and can be exemplified by writing code, coding comments, unit testing, integration testing, design documents, release notes, and so on.

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use dod:

Received a letter of commendation for exceptional service from a classified DoD Program Office (2011).
Design in accordance with both commercial and military standards and included cost management preparation and reporting per full DoD requirements.

6. Solidworks

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use solidworks:

Perform structural design and analysis calculations through engineering formulas using governing codes, standards and SolidWorks Simulation.
Completed major SolidWorks 3D-redesign project of an entire 12U (21" high) rack-mount card-cage chassis.

Choose from 10+ customizable principal mechanical engineer resume templates

Build a professional principal mechanical engineer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your principal mechanical engineer resume.

7. 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 principal mechanical engineers use gd:

Captured customer requirements for implementation into GD design documentation.
Employed GD & T to generate 2-D prints' dimensions by means of the dimensional management technique.

8. Engineering Design

Engineering design is defined as the method that engineers use to recognize and solve problems. It is an extensive and flexible approach to problem-solving and provides the necessary information needed regarding every step of the process. An engineering design is a collaborative effort of the team to identify problems underlying a process and find out ways to solve them.

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use engineering design:

Perform detailed design of Utilities/Process Engineering design and construction supervision for oil and gas facilities.
Led engineering design and equipment selection processes; oversaw the creation of piping and instrumentation diagrams and plant layout documents.

9. Mechanical Systems

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use mechanical systems:

Provided engineering support for commissioning and overhaul of mechanical systems associated with cryogenic air separation facilities.
Designed mechanical systems for various industries ranging from fast food restaurants to health clinics.

10. 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 principal mechanical engineers use structural analysis:

Led development, design, and thermal/structural analysis for Comanche Antenna helicopter platform with seven composite antennas.
Performed thermal and structural analysis of numerous high-altitude aeronautical sub-assemblies.

11. 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 principal mechanical engineers use fea:

Perform DFMEA, DOE s, analyze designs by use of engineering calculations, FEA, and statistical analysis.
Performed stress analysis and strength calculations using FEA and 1st principals.

12. Ansys

Ansys is a company that offers software that facilitates engineering simulation for product design, service and quality tests, and system development.

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use ansys:

Supervised the work of a junior mechanical engineer in developing a structural finite element model of the robot using ANSYS.
Performed structural dynamics analysis of loaded cabinet using ANSYS to pass zone 4 seismic loading.

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 principal mechanical engineers use design reviews:

Coordinated and presented detailed design reviews to include tolerance stack-up studies.
Conduct internal and external customer design reviews.

14. RF

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use rf:

Redesigned and built a RF & digital card cage for 19 rack-mounting reducing front to back time by 60%.
Managed and drove continuous improvement programs (CIP) of RF plasma ion immersion implanting equipment for the semiconductor industry.

15. Project Management

Here's how principal mechanical engineers use project management:

Performed Project Management for ICI Paint Plant tank replacement project.
Project Management, planning, design and implementation of Ancure training catheter/implant delivery system saving the company $3MM annually.

5 Principal Mechanical Engineer resume examples

Build a professional principal mechanical engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your principal mechanical engineer resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Principal Mechanical Engineers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on principal mechanical 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 principal mechanical 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 principal mechanical 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 principal mechanical 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 principal mechanical 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.

What technical skills for a principal mechanical engineer stand out to employers?

Martin Pietrucha Ph.D.

Program Coordinator and Professor, Pennsylvania State University

Given this trend, employers will be looking for the usual superior engineering knowledge and skill sets, but they will also be interested in those who can prove that they are excellent self-starters and time managers. Being able to demonstrate one's "flexibility" and an ability to think on one's feet will also be highly desirable.

Do you want to know more?

List of principal mechanical engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a principal mechanical engineer resume and required skills for a principal mechanical engineer to have include:

Mechanical Engineering
CAD
Mechanical Design
Creo
DOD
Solidworks
GD
Engineering Design
Mechanical Systems
Structural Analysis
FEA
Ansys
Design Reviews
RF
Project Management
Prototype
Prototyping

Tolerance Analysis
Thermal Analysis
Program Management
Mechanical Engineering Design
Engineering Support
Product Design
Aided Design
UL
Autocad
Test Procedures
Verification Testing
HVAC
Product Development
Assembly Drawings
ISO
Technical Direction
Product Performance

Pro-E
Earned Value Management
Mechanical Components
Failure Analysis
IR
PCB
CNC
CFD
Stress Analysis
IPT
Technical Support
Product Data Management
Design Changes
API
BOM

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

Browse architecture and engineering jobs