A project engineer is someone tasked to manage technical working groups. Often, his or her job focuses on doing calculations, preparing bids, writing design specifications, scrutinizing equipment requests, and drawing diagrams and layouts.
A project engineer is responsible for overseeing the success of an entire project, which can be an interconnection of tasks carried out by different people from various departments. His or her role would be to liaise between the project head and everyone else working on a specific project. In some cases, a project engineer also serves as the technical point person for the client.
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Read More about a “Project Engineer”
Based on the projections of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth of employment for engineers will continue until 2026. Project engineers are also included in the most in-demand engineers in 2020. If you want to take advantage of this trend, read on.
What do Project Engineers Do?
The tasks expected of a project engineer include:
- Coordinating functions with all assigned departments
- Communicating with clients to identify project requirements
- Maintaining quality throughout the project lifecycle
- Creating reports to present the project status
- Ensuring regulation compliance across all processes
- Reviewing schedules and initiate corrective plans to ensure project success
What Skills and Qualifications Should Project Engineers Have?
Education
The educational requirements of a project engineer vary by field. However, most employers require a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or business management. Some may also opt for an applicant with a master’s degree in engineering management for more senior posts.
A project engineer can also choose to get certifications, such as Certified Professional in Engineering Management (CPEM) and Certified Associate in Engineering Management (CAEM) from the American Society for Engineering Management. These certifications are valid for three years and require continuing education for renewal.
Skills
Project engineers are expected to have excellent organizational and problem-solving skills to make sure the project proceeds without any hitch. They must also have adequate communication skills as they are responsible for liaising with various groups. Finally, project engineers must also have crisis intervention and aversion skills to anticipate potential problems that may arise during the entire project lifecycle.
Additional Skills
Knowledge in computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is ideal. In some industries, familiarity with MATLAB and Solidworks is a plus.
How Much does a Project Engineer Earn on Average?
A project engineer’s salary depends on his or her experience. According to PayScale, a U.S.-based entry-level project engineer can earn at least US$60,000 a year. Those with a few years of experience can expect to receive US$78,000, while those with extensive knowledge of over 20 years can expect to get at least US$99,000 a year. Some companies would offer additional incentives, like profit sharing, for every successful project completion.
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Project engineers can advance their careers by obtaining professional training and certifications focusing on project management and engineering design.
