Engineering Cover Letter: Examples & How to Write

[Today’s Date]

[Contact Person’s Name]
[Company Name]
[Number and Street Name]
[Town]
[Postcode]
[Contact Person’s Phone Number]
[Contact Person’s Email]

Dear [Mr/Ms/Mx] [Contact Person’s Surname],

My name is [Your Name], and you can’t imagine how excited I am to apply for [Company Name]’s Engineer position recently advertised on reed.co.uk. I admire your focus on health and safety, and the high quality of your products. I believe my 5 years’ experience and BSc in Engineering would make me a great addition to your team.

In my current role at Redbridge Systems, I perform planned and reactive maintenance on a wide range of machinery. During my tenure, I’ve demonstrated great skill in installing, upgrading, and repairing both mechanical and electrical equipment, including AC/DC motors, three-phase electrics, and pumps.

I’ve built a reputation for conscientiousness and leadership, which is evident in the following accomplishments:

Performed regular inspections and preventative maintenance, reducing downtime by 15%
Mentored 7 new technicians and junior engineers in diagnosing and repairing plant and production machines

Well-versed in spare part auditing and ordering, I’ve ordered and kept records of 300+ parts since starting my professional career.

I welcome the opportunity to show you how my technical knowledge and expertise can benefit [Company Name]. Please feel free to contact me at 07555 555 555 or yourname@gmail.com to schedule an interview.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]

Engineering is one of the most in-demand jobs in the UK, with the field accounting for about 19% of the country’s employment.

So when applying to engineering positions, you should craft a compelling cover letter to set yourself apart from other candidates.

Here are three tips for writing an engineering cover letter to ensure your application impresses potential employers.

1. Highlight your engineering skills

Engineering is a broad field that includes electrical, mechanical, mining, computer, civil, petroleum, and other industries. It’s a discipline that requires creativity, innovation, and a strong educational background.

Engineers play a vital role in the growth and development of a country’s economy. For the best results, employers seek candidates with a good combination of the necessary hard and soft skills.

Show that you’re the right candidate for the job by giving examples of how you put your engineer-specific skills to good use.

Technical skills vary depending on your engineering field, so only mention the ones you have that are relevant to the job you want. These general hard skills are good to highlight in your engineering cover letter:

Computer-aided design (CAD) software (Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Bentley MicroStation, Civil 3D)
Development environment software (Microsoft Visual Studio, National Instruments LabVIEW)
Geographic and analytical software (ESRI ArcGIS software, the MathWorks MATLAB)
Map creation software (Bentley Systems InRoads Suite)
Programming software ( Notepad++, Azure)

Here are great engineering soft skills to include in your cover letter:

Attention to detail
Time management
Prioritisation
Leadership and collaboration
Listening skills
Problem solving
Negotiation
Project management
Ability to work under pressure

2. Open with a strong introduction

Because engineering jobs require a specialised skill set, other applicants to your target job likely have similar technical backgrounds.

So, you should start your cover letter off strong to ensure your application grabs the attention of your potential employer.

Follow these tips to write a standout introduction for your engineering cover letter:

Show your enthusiasm for the position

Only saying that you’re interested in the job isn’t enough. Go into detail about the company’s projects and goals that excite you.

Mention an outstanding achievement

If possible, open your cover letter with a relevant accomplishment from your career to showcase your engineering ability.

Use hard numbers to quantify your skills

Including data gives a clearer picture of your achievements and potential contribution to the company. Here’s an example of how to include hard numbers on your engineering cover letter:

An example of hard numbers in an engineering cover letter's bullet points — If you use data from your CV, add extra information to avoid repetition.

3. Research the company

Showing that you’ve researched the company in your cover letter will give the employer the impression that you’re interested in working for them. So read up on the company’s history, products, and goals to ensure you’re well informed about its operations.

Then, when you write your cover letter, include some of the information you found to stand out from other applicants — especially if you can offer solutions to the challenges the company faces.