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Project Engineer

Project engineers are responsible for planning and overseeing projects to ensure they are completed in a timely fashion and within budget. Project managers plan and designate project resources, prepare budgets, monitor progress, and keep stakeholders informed the entire way. This is all done within the confines of a company’s goals and vision.

Engineering is a complex and ever-evolving industry, so engineering project engineers need to be adaptable and up to date on all of the latest best practices. That includes engineering practices related to the project at hand, as well as overall management skills.

Project Engineer

What does a Project Engineer do?

Project Engineer

For engineers, project management includes careful planning and communication of that plan to a team of engineers. It involves the identification of project goals and milestones as well as the development of multiple scenarios and contingency plans. It’s an important process for any engineering team because otherwise, the unexpected can arise and derail the work of dozens or even hundreds of people.

Project management skills are different from those required for engineering management. Engineering management primarily involves overseeing the day-to-day work of engineers and other professionals in related technical fields. An engineering manager may need to oversee projects, but they usually only work on the technical aspects of the project.

A project engineer oversees all aspects of project completion, including the logistical as well as the technical. The path to becoming a project manager is also quicker than the path to becoming an engineering manager. Certification is helpful but not required for a project manager, but most engineering managers typically need a master’s degree and state licensure to get started.

  • Project Scope Knowledge

    Project engineers determine and define project scope and objective. They predict resources needed to reach objectives and manage resources in an effective and efficient manner.

  • Communication & Support

    Project engineers must communicate daily with all team members and stakeholders through the use of written and verbal methods. They provide technical support and clarification to clients and other internal departments during engineering, fabrication, and commissioning of projects.

  • Budgeting Knowledge

    These engineers are responsible to prepare budget based on scope of work and resource requirements Track project costs in order to meet budget. They facilitate financial planning and budgeting by identifying needed projects, developing project scope and justification, and preparing preliminary cost estimates.

  • Organizational Skills

    Project engineers handle many tasks with many different people on a daily basis. They ensure what work is completed at all times is essential to leading a team.

Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical design engineers use physics and engineering principles to design mechanical systems and devices. They develop plans for generating new engine models and develop strategies for improving upon current models. They also build prototypes and test them to measure their functionality. Additionally, design engineers collaborate with fabrication teams when manufacturing products to guide them on the design specifications. Plus, they conduct technical research. Relevant certification is beneficial to succeed as a mechanical design engineer.

Project Lead Engineer

A project lead engineer is an organized engineer who plans, manages, and ensures projects are completed on time. As a project lead engineer, you will be tasked with communicating and finding out what the client wants, negotiating the price and timescale needed for completion, and drawing up a detailed plan on how to achieve the desired outcome. Also, it is your responsibility to ensure there are adequate and suitable materials for project development and regularly report the progress to senior managers or clients.

Engineering Supervisor

The engineering supervisor is responsible for overseeing operations in the engineering department. He/She ensures all operations meet budget needs, project goals, specifications, and regulatory guidelines. He/She ensures that machinery, equipment, and utilities are functioning properly. Besides that, he/she oversees validation, parts procurement and management, calibration, permit maintenance, and engineering operating standards, among others.

Design Engineer

A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system’s stability and high-quality processes. 

Salary

Salary

The estimated total pay for an engineering project manager is $94,209 per year.

0 - 1 Years

Engineering project managers with 0 - 1 years experience earn on average:

 
$97,121 per year
 
10 - 14 Years

Engineering project managers with 10 - 14 years experience earn on average:

 
$112,364 per year
4 - 6 Years

Engineering project managers with 4 - 6 years experience earn on average:

 
$103,803 per year
15+ Years

Engineering project managers with 15+ years experience earn on average:

 
$122,374 per year
1 - 3 Years

Engineering project managers with 1 - 3 years experience earn on average:

 
$100,376 per year

These are 2021 national salary averages and may fluctuate based on location.

What does the workplace for a Project Engineer look like?

Learn More

Engineering project managers typically work in an office environment, although they may travel to job sites to oversee construction or to meet with clients. They usually work a standard 40-hour week, although they may occasionally work overtime to meet deadlines or to attend meetings. Engineering project managers may experience periods of high stress when coordinating deadlines and projects. They must be able to work well under pressure and be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

Engineering project managers are responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and management of projects within their organization. They work with teams of engineers, architects, designers, etc. to ensure that all projects are completed on time and on budget.

Engineering project managers must be able to effectively manage multiple projects at once while still providing clear direction to their team members. They also need strong communication skills in order to coordinate with clients or other stakeholders throughout the process.

How to Become a Project Engineer?

Engineering Project Manager

Project engineers generally need to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or business, as well as several years of experience in the relevant line of work with increasing responsibility. Successful project managers are detail-oriented and have excellent communication skills.

Engineers make excellent project managers. They have a first-hand understanding of the type of work they’ll be managing, and they usually know from experience what good and bad management looks like in the engineering world. To make the leap, they just need a basic grounding in project management as a formal skill set.

Many project engineers choose to pursue a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. The PMP credential is available through the Project Management Institute. CIO magazine ranked it as the top project management certification. An engineer with a four-year degree is eligible to take the PMP exam as soon as they have three years of experience leading projects and 35 months of formal training.

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Sources: 
Canva.com, 2022 | Climbtheladder.com, 2022 | Glassdoor.com, 2022 | Zippia.com, 2022 | Accelo.com, 2022

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