ATS Keywords
Structural Engineer ATS Resume Keywords That Get You Past the Screen
Structural engineer job postings are scanned by ATS software for licensure, code names, and analysis software before a human ever opens the file, so missing terms like 'PE license' or 'ETABS' can filter out a qualified candidate automatically. Because the discipline is code- and software-specific, matching the exact vocabulary of the posting matters more here than in generalist engineering roles. The keywords below reflect what structural engineering ATS platforms and recruiters actually search for.
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Must-Have Keywords
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Power Phrases
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Words to Avoid
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Missing Keywords
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Formatting
ATS-Friendly Format Tips
Use standard section headers like 'Professional Experience' and 'Licenses & Certifications' — ATS parsers often fail to categorize creative headers like 'My Journey'.
Spell out acronyms at least once (e.g., 'Professional Engineer (PE)', 'American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)') so the ATS matches both the abbreviation and the full term.
List your PE license number, state or licensing body, and issue date in plain text, not inside a graphic or text box, since most ATS platforms cannot parse images or embedded tables.
Avoid submitting resumes as scanned PDFs or heavily designed templates with columns and sidebars — many ATS engines misread multi-column layouts and drop entire sections.
Mirror the exact software names from the job posting (e.g., 'ETABS' not 'structural analysis software') since ATS keyword matching is often literal, not semantic.
Save the file as a standard .docx or text-based PDF named with your actual name, not a generic filename like 'Resume_Final_v3.pdf'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
PE licensure, the specific analysis software you've used (ETABS, SAP2000, RAM, STAAD.Pro), governing codes (IBC, ASCE 7, AISC 360, ACI 318), and your material specialization are scanned most consistently.
Yes — include the license number, state or licensing body, and issue year in plain text near your name or in a certifications section; it's one of the highest-value keywords an ATS and a hiring manager both look for.
Yes. Building-focused postings scan for IBC, ASCE 7, and AISC/ACI code references, while bridge and infrastructure roles scan for AASHTO, load rating, and DOT-specific terminology — mirror whichever the posting uses.
No — list only the software named in the job posting or genuinely central to your experience; padding with irrelevant tools dilutes keyword density and can look like keyword stuffing.
Yes, most often due to formatting — multi-column layouts, tables, text boxes, and scanned PDFs frequently get misparsed even when the underlying content is strong.
Two to three natural mentions across your summary, skills, and experience sections is enough — most modern ATS platforms weight relevance and context, not raw repetition count.
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