What does a Project Engineer do?
Project engineers manage teams throughout the entire span of a project which is technical or involves engineering. They ensure the design, consistency and functionality of a project throughout its entire process. They prepare, schedule, coordinate and monitor all assigned projects and communicate during daily interactions with clients to interpret requirements and needs.
Project engineers communicate with the project manager and other members of the team to provide any necessary assistance or technical support. They review the engineering deliverables and initiate appropriate corrective actions throughout the duration of the project. They prepare schedules, and coordinate and monitor the assigned engineering projects. They monitor compliance to applicable codes and practices as well as quality assurance and quality control policies. They strive to prepare, schedule, coordinate, and monitor the project to ensure it adheres to its budget. Project engineers need a bachelor’s degree in engineering, business management, or construction management.
- Compare the actual cost of development project to estimates.
- Supervise staff in carrying out plans, programs, and services.
- Travel as necessary to suppliers, conferences, and manufacturing facilities.
- Support the project manager in monitoring and reporting project costs.
- Coordinate with project managers to successfully deliver projects to clients.
- Responsible for the profitable operation of large, mega projects.
- Manage internal project scope of work, budget, timeline, and change orders.
- Ensure project management systems are maintained up-to-date and accurate.
- Perform design, development, and/or analysis to support assigned projects.
- Perform CAE simulations, analyze and utilize outputs to optimize product design.
- Provide senior-level technical expertise to client on project aspects within the discipline.
- Engage with internal resources to ensure fulfillment of the project.
- Generate periodic reports on behalf of clients on the project status.
- Track, report and work to improve production of self-performed work
- Preparation of project plans, extensions of design and contract submittals.
- Perform site visits during development and construction to manage design process.
- Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in engineering projects.
- Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in business, business administration, engineering or human resources, or equivalent experience.
- Experience with AutoCAD, CAD, and BIM software and systems.
- Prior experience in a consulting position.
- Comfortable with processes such as change orders, site design, project design, and explanation of cost estimates.
- Experience and drawing and site design.
- Demonstrated collaboration and critical thinking skills alongside dedication to continuous improvement.
- Can lead and problem solve.
- Demonstrated strong work ethic and attention to detail.
Project Engineer Salaries
Average Base Pay
Project Engineer Career Path
Learn how to become a Project Engineer, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Project Engineer Insights
L3Harris“Jazzed about my daily tasks and responsibilities because we engineer solutions that are meaningful and innovative.”
Truconstruction“It was the overall the best job and I enjoyed and learned a lot from it.”
Collective Benefits“Resentment and low morale are now widespread and frankly I cannot see how this can be resolved.”
Wipro“Best platform to kick start your career as a fresher as you would be given right path and good work exposure”
Ogdcl“Best team analytics and one of the best asset management i have in any organization in the country”
Corning“Salary increases don't appear to maintain competitiveness with job market norms and tend to fall below industry standards”
DePuy Synthes“The managers I have worked with are brilliant but I have experiences with others that have not been good.”
Barnhart Crane & Rigging“Not competitive in engineering pay yet one of the best crane and rigging outfits in the country.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of project engineers
The typical day of a project engineer is spent overseeing engineering or technical projects, handling the scheduling, budget, and hiring. Daily tasks may include coordinating with contractors and suppliers, evaluating the progress of the project, reporting to stakeholders, and troubleshooting potential problems that arise along the way.
Becoming a project engineer is a great option for those who enjoy both the overarching technical aspects and design of a project and the hands-on work of getting that project done. One advantage of being a project engineer is that this is a diverse role that incorporates many duties, from overseeing safety to keeping tasks on schedule.
The average pay for project engineers is $3,806 a year. Senior project engineers and lead project engineers can attain six-figure salaries. Experience plays a major role in the salary for this position. Heavy construction and civil engineering jobs are often the highest-paying options in this field.
Working as a project engineer gives you many responsibilities, which can make this a very stressful job. As the project moves through different stages, you may find your schedule fluctuating, requiring time in the office and on the work site, which can be a difficult aspect of being a project engineer.