Hiring managers tasked with recruiting the very best should put more of their effort into a great job posting. For a top engineer job description, here are some things to know. Engineers head the design and building process of major physical structures. They use computer engineering software to manage an entire project from start to finish.
The basic qualification for an engineer is a college degree in the subject. Some organizations require even further education with a more advanced degree. Experience in the field is another must-have along with a professional engineer license.
Ideally, a qualified engineer should have top-level math skills and a unique ability to solve complex problems. Since engineers are often supervising others, leadership skills are a must as well. See how to write your own job posting by taking a look at this engineer job description template presented below.
Engineer Job Summary
Looking for a way to make your mark on the creation of our state’s roads and highways? If so, we are interested in telling you more about this exciting opportunity to join the state transportation department as an engineer. We are seeking an individual with a proven track record of heading large scale building projects successfully. As an engineer, it will be your duty to work with your team from the design process through building completion and to improve the way the state’s roads are built, drained and maintained. If you want to enhance our area’s network of highways and roads, this may be your perfect chance.
Job Responsibilities
- Visit physical locations where projects are currently underway to monitor task completion and ensure the goals are being met
- Supervise the scope of a large scale construction project and assess each worker’s contribution to the building or maintenance stage
- Collaborate with the project management team of a build to offer assistance with technical details for the design or building process
- Calculate the supply details for building materials and the labor requirements and determine the cost of everything to see if it falls within the budget of the project
- Survey building sites to determine ideal layouts for construction, identify elevations and grades and find reference points for each project
- Research potential environmental risks and impacts from the scope of the project and develop a plan to address concerns
- Write detailed summaries of project timelines, environmental impact reports, requests for proposals and other other written statements for the public
- Maintain optimal standards during project management that follow all relevant federal, state, local and industry guidelines
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering
- State professional engineer license
- Three or more years of experience working as an engineer
- Proficiency in AutoCAD or other engineering design programs
Preferred:
- Master’s degree in engineering
- Background in infrastructure management, road and highway design
Engineer Job Responsibilities
When putting together an engineer job description, you want to include responsibilities that convey your expectations for the position. Since the job responsibilities section constitutes the largest portion of the job description, be sure to keep your writing here detailed yet concise. A bulleted list is the clearest way to present the information. Choose 6-8 engineer tasks that are essential to your operations, and list each one with an engaging action verb to grab the reader’s attention.
The responsibilities you include in your engineer job description should not be one-size-fits-all. You want to go beyond the mundane daily tasks required of the job; instead, provide a list of enriching challenges that appeals to jobseekers. Though you are primarily presenting your expectations for the role, you are also trying to attract the best talent. Additionally, do not overwhelm applicants with too many responsibilities. In order to find the best candidate, you need jobseekers to want the position.
For a better idea of how to accomplish this, take a look at the following examples of engineer job responsibilities and discover how to strengthen your job description:
- Identify opportunities to improve product design or function
- Coordinate with design team to create new products
- Adapt designs for manufacturing process
- Test and troubleshoot materials, design and functionality
Engineer Job Specifications
The job qualifications and skills section of your engineer job description is equally as important as the responsibilities portion. Here you have an opportunity to limit the applicant pool and simplify the hiring process. In ruling out underqualified applicants, you can focus your energy on eligible candidates.
To begin, create two bulleted lists: one of preferred qualifications and one of required qualifications. You should coordinate with hiring managers to determine how to categorize and prioritize the items on these two lists. Preferred skills usually encompass professional experience or specific training or certification. Required skills, on the other hand, are the minimum qualifications applicants must have. Typically, these include education level and necessary professional abilities, such as basic understanding of the tools, techniques and practices in product engineering.
Like the list you created in the responsibilities section of the engineer job description, the two bulleted lists you create in the qualifications and skills section should be clear and direct. Use sentence fragments in order to keep each item as concise as possible.
Here are a few examples of engineer job specifications that may be helpful when writing your job description:
- Minimum BS in Mechanical Engineering or similar field
- Advanced mathematic skills required
- 3-5 years’ experience in product development preferred
- Design experience necessary
- Training in CAD software and technology preferred