In this paper, the upgrading and transformation methods of talent training system of traditional engineering majors in local application‐oriented university was explored under the background of emerging engineering education. Taking the major of mechanical design, manufacturing and its automation of Jiaxing University as an example, it is a traditional engineering major and cannot match the talent requirement of the upgrading and transformation of local manufacturing industries in the new era. So, it is an inevitable choice for Jiaxing University to cooperate with local advanced intelligent manufacturing enterprises to construct a new talent training system, in which the school and related enterprises jointly construct intelligent manufacturing curriculum system and develop multiple practice platforms to cultivate the compound study and practice ability for college students based on the integration of production and education. The specific implementation and supporting measures of how to develop the major feature of intelligent manufacturing and realize the cultivation of compound talents has been analyzed. It provides a case for emerging engineering education construction and talent training mode reform for local application‐oriented university.