Land interviews by building a strong mechanical engineer cover letter tailored to specific companies. This adds a personal touch to your application and best captures your experience as a mechanical engineer. When writing content, include standout achievements emphasizing your ability to manage complex projects and collaborate with diverse engineering teams. Our guide provides examples and expert tips to translate your work experience into a powerful cover letter.
Mechanical Engineer Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Mechanical Engineer Cover Letter
Most job opportunities won’t require a mechanical engineer cover letter. If you choose to include one, make sure it positively impacts your application. The best way to generate interest from potential employers is by exploring the nuances of your experience as a mechanical engineer. Why were your designs innovative? How did you enhance manufacturing processes? Below, we’ll provide guidance to help you feature these insights in your mechanical engineer cover letter:
1. Contact information and salutation
List all essential contact information at the top of your mechanical engineering cover letter, including your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL. Be sure to address the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.” This is preferable to salutations such as “To Whom It May Concern,” as this language is more direct and personal.
2. Introduction
Open your mechanical engineer cover letter with a strong introduction to peak the interest of the hiring manager. Highlight your years of experience as an engineer and feature key technical skills that match the job description. Build your paragraph around one of your most notable engineering achievements to immediately show the value you can bring to potential employers. In the example below, the candidate emphasizes how they can reduce manufacturing costs without sacrificing quality control, which is incredibly important for this type of position:
Example
I’m interested in applying for the mechanical engineer position with Tactical Air Support Inc. During my time with Modus Manufacturing, I managed a project to streamline the prototyping process. This resulted in an overall cost reduction of 32% without compromising output quality. I can achieve similar results for your engineering team in this position.
3. Body paragraphs
The body paragraphs of your mechanical engineering cover letter should expand on your career achievements. Feature accomplishments that demonstrate your engineering skills and leadership capabilities. Be sure to mention something specific about the company’s reputation, mission, or culture and why you’re drawn to the opportunity. In the example below, the candidate highlights their advanced expertise in aerospace engineering, which is the kind of specificity that hiring managers are looking for during the job search:
Example
I understand your company is searching for an inspiring leader with a detailed knowledge of the latest developments in aircraft mission systems. My recent accomplishments demonstrate that I have the necessary skills and experience to support your aircraft production team. Some of my past successes include:
- Developed an innovative weight prediction protocol that was featured in five major aeronautical publications in 2020
- Spearheaded initiatives to streamline the prototyping process and fine-tuned performance modeling techniques, which reduced annual production costs by over $1.5 million per year
- Achieved a bronze RAeS Medal for pioneering work on wind tunnel testing
4. Mechanical engineer skills and qualifications
Providing a list of your skills and industry knowledge is the wrong approach for your mechanical engineer skills. Instead, show how you’ve applied your engineering expertise to execute key projects using key examples from your work history. Below is a list of potential skill sets you can consider adding to your cover letter:
| Key Skills and Qualifications | |
|---|---|
| Automation | Blueprint reading |
| CAD | Fluid mechanics |
| Health and safety compliance | Heat transfer |
| Machine design | Manufacturing processes |
| Materials science and engineering | Mechanical testing |
| Product development | Project management |
| Quality assurance and control | Risk mitigation |
| Robotics | Root cause analysis |
| Structural analysis and design | Technical drawings and blueprints |
| Thermodynamics | |
5. Closing section
Close out your mechanical engineering cover letter with a call to action that invites the hiring manager to schedule you for an interview. Highlight how your engineering expertise can help improve quality control and mechanical designs. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration in the last sentence.
Example
I look forward to speaking with you further about how my engineering background can help Tactical Air Support continue to grow its reputation as a global leader in military aircraft design. You may contact me via phone or email at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Raheem Richardson
Mechanical Engineer Cover Letter Tips
1. Quantify your engineering achievements
When describing your background as a mechanical engineer, feature hard numbers, monetary figures, and data to establish a sense of scope for your accomplishments. In the example below, to grab the attention of the hiring manager, the candidate mentions the size of their capital projects and provides insights into how they reduced manufacturing costs:
- Oversaw engineering operations for a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, led the execution of capital projects valued at up to $25 million and maintained all facility and production equipment
- Reduced maintenance costs by 15% in manufacturing by revising preventative maintenance plans to eliminate breakdowns identified during quality control audits
- Managed, developed, and built a 40-person engineering team spanning design, manufacturing, and facility maintenance and introduced 5S Lean processes
2. Feature your leadership experience as an engineer
While your engineering knowledge will always be the most valuable asset to potential employers, companies also value candidates with strong people management skills. In the example below, the applicant demonstrates their ability to lead teams and collaborate with cross-functional groups, which shows you’re the right cultural fit for the organization:
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to create a series of technical diagrams and HVAC designs, resulting in a $10 million contract with the Detroit Airport
- Served as the engineering lead for complex commercial projects and provided coaching and mentorship to junior engineers to enhance performance and drive professional development
- Spearheaded continuous improvement initiatives and developed new engineering processes, contributing to a 10% reduction in project delivery timelines
3. Showcase your industry knowledge
It’s important to brand yourself as a subject matter expert by conveying your industry expertise in your cover letter. Hiring managers want to see you have the proper knowledge and experience to create value for their team. Below, the applicant starts by mentioning how they’ve successfully integrated commercial and industrial solutions for large HVAC clients, which makes them the ideal candidate for this role:
I’m reaching out regarding the senior mechanical engineer position with Grayson HVAC Inc. As you can see from my attached resume, I have over eight years of experience designing high-quality HVAC solutions for multi-million dollar commercial and industrial clients. My engineering background would be a strong asset to your team in this position.
Mechanical Engineer Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Kevin Morrison
Mechanical Engineer | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Detroit, MI 12345 | LinkedIn
January 1, 2024
Pat Martin
Hiring Manager
Grayson HVAC Inc.
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Pat Martin:
I’m reaching out regarding the senior mechanical engineer position with Grayson HVAC Inc. As you can see from my attached resume, I have over eight years of experience designing high-quality HVAC solutions for multi-million dollar commercial and industrial clients. My engineering background would be a strong asset to your team in this position.
Grayson HVAC Inc.’s reputation as an industry leader in HVAC design is what draws me to apply for this opportunity. In my previous role with Corbin Heating and Cooling, I was integral in designing a new HVAC system for the Detroit Airport. I can solve complex heating and ventilation challenges for your company based on my previous experience:
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to create a series of technical diagrams and HVAC designs, resulting in a $10 million contract with the Detroit Airport
- Served as the engineering lead for complex commercial projects and provided coaching and mentorship to junior engineers to enhance performance and drive professional development
- Spearheaded continuous improvement initiatives and developed new engineering processes, which contributed to a 10% reduction in project delivery timelines
I would like to schedule an interview to further discuss how my experience designing commercial HVAC solutions could create value for your clients. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Kevin Morrison
Mechanical Engineer Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I include a mechanical engineer cover letter?-
Most companies likely won’t require a cover letter for mechanical engineer jobs, but submitting one can increase your odds of landing the interview. The primary value of a cover letter is conveying your experience and passion for your industry using more personalized language. This small personal touch can help make a lasting impression on the hiring manager.
How long should my cover letter be?-
As a general rule, less is more when it comes to writing your cover letter. Hiring managers have limited bandwidth to read through every application they receive, and featuring too much information may actually cause the reader to lose interest. Focus your cover letter on your most compelling qualifications and achievements, which are far more likely to generate better results during the job search.
Should I use artificial intelligence to write my cover letter?-
It’s generally not advisable to rely on artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write your entire cover letter. While you can use ChatGPT to help you start an initial draft, allowing AI to write all the content will likely produce a generic, uninspiring document. To make a lasting impression on the hiring manager, your cover letter needs to convey who you are as a professional in your own words.
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