What does a contracting engineer do?
A contracting engineer specializes in overseeing engineering projects, focusing on the legalities of contracts between clients and engineers to ensure fairness in all parties involved. Most of their duties are administrative, such as gathering and analyzing data, conducting research and analyses, setting budgets and guidelines, drafting commercial tenders and other paperwork, maintaining records, and executing contracts. They are also responsible for handling contract issues and concerns, solving them promptly and efficiently. Additionally, a contracting engineer maintains an open communication line with all parties to ensure a smooth workflow.
Contracting engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real contracting engineer resumes:
- Design engineering work are accomplished with Pro/E WF5.0 and Windchill PDMLink.
- Develop graphical user interfaces to automate design library release process using Perl and Perl/Tk.
- Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
- Create larger Creo FEA model of wider frame which notably sped up the design cycle.
- Test prototypes to find flaws in the design and to troubleshoot those problems.
- Design and implement application to do performance testing for REX toolkit components on the Linux platform.
- Used Matlab to process field data for interference testing between propose LTE band and existing TV channel.
- Perform preventative maintenance, repairs and equipment change outs on commercial and light industrial HVAC equipment and controls.
- Provide construction administration, cost estimation, building department resolutions for owners and contractors, and answer RFI's.
- Prepare, review RFI, RFQ, ITT documents for open and close competitive tendering for engineering and logistics projects.
- Support engineering with SolidWorks documentation.
- Develop control components for HVAC application.
- Provide detailed machining and assembly drawings using SolidWorks.
- Provide expertise in RF and microwave component selection and generation of necessary documentation.
- Enhanced/Support embedded Linux platforms for monitor/control of agricultural irrigation systems and wind generator farms.
Contracting engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Contracting Engineers are proficient in C++, C #, and R. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Listening skills, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Contracting Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- C++, 9%
Embedded avionics instrumentation in C++ in a distributed client-server instrumentation system.
- C #, 9%
Reviewed reports on engineering assessments -Traffic Studies of BRAC #133, Mark Center Building, and Alexandria, VA.
- R, 6%
Translated interpolation and validation rainfall models from R to Java for application development.
- Python, 5%
Created additional python scripts which provided a means to create repeatable environment configurations for testing.
- Windows, 4%
Designed and implemented computerized Physician Order Entry (windows client/server application) to allow care providers place and sign orders electronically.
- Test Procedures, 4%
Developed test procedures for measurement of power supply performance.
Most contracting engineers use their skills in "c++," "c #," and "r" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential contracting engineer responsibilities here:
Creativity. One of the key soft skills for a contracting engineer to have is creativity. You can see how this relates to what contracting engineers do because "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." Additionally, a contracting engineer resume shows how contracting engineers use creativity: "designed custom machines/equipment utilizing inventor and autocad. "
Listening skills. Many contracting engineer duties rely on listening skills. "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists," so a contracting engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways contracting engineer responsibilities rely on listening skills: "communicated extensively with vendors to develop project scope baseline and to create the work breakdown structure (wbs). "
Mechanical skills. This is an important skill for contracting engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how contracting engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a contracting engineer: "create mechanical designs, 3-d model assemblies and animation, and engineering drawings using solid works. ".
Problem-solving skills. contracting engineer responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." This resume example shows what contracting engineers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "resolved and closes customer complaints for fda related issues. "
Math skills. A commonly-found skill in contracting engineer job descriptions, "math skills" is essential to what contracting engineers do. Contracting engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." You can also see how contracting engineer duties rely on math skills in this resume example: "test results were used to correlate existing thermal math models for improved temperature predictions. "
The three companies that hire the most contracting engineers are:
- Motion Recruitment16 contracting engineers jobs
- PDS Tech9 contracting engineers jobs
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey2 contracting engineers jobs
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Compare different contracting engineers
Contracting engineer vs. Team lead engineer
A team leads engineer is in charge of spearheading and overseeing the efforts of an engineering team, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Although the duties may depend on one's industry of employment, it typically includes designing and developing systems according to project requirements, setting objectives and construction guidelines, delegating tasks, managing budgets and schedules, and monitoring the workflow, performing corrective measures as needed. Furthermore, as a team leads engineer, it is essential to encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while enforcing the company's safety standards and regulations.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a contracting engineer are more likely to require skills like "sql," "control systems," "autocad," and "fpga." On the other hand, a job as a team lead engineer requires skills like "architecture," "java," "infrastructure," and "san." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Team lead engineers tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $117,918. In contrast, contracting engineers make the biggest average salary, $119,415, in the professional industry.On average, team lead engineers reach similar levels of education than contracting engineers. Team lead engineers are 3.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Contracting engineer vs. Application engineer
An application engineer is responsible for creating and re-designing system applications based on clients' specifications and sales demands. Application engineers run diagnostic tests on software programs, identify areas of improvement, install necessary updates, upgrade optimization, revise system codes, and provide technical support for customers' needs. They also generate ideas and locate other business opportunities by analyzing current trends in the technology market that would help build revenues and increase profitability for the company. An application engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, software application processes, and general technology disciplines.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real contracting engineer resumes. While contracting engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "python," "test procedures," "sql," and "fpga," application engineers use skills like "technical support," "java," "customer service," and "ul."
On average, application engineers earn a lower salary than contracting engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, application engineers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $100,321. Whereas contracting engineers have higher pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $119,415.In general, application engineers achieve similar levels of education than contracting engineers. They're 1.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for contracting engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University
Contracting engineer vs. Integration engineer
An integration engineer specializes in developing programs and projects to improve business systems for optimal processes. Their responsibilities revolve around meeting with clients to determine their needs, coordinating with analysts to identify the company's strengths and weaknesses, implementing various solutions for business processes, and performing corrective measures as needed. They must also respond to any issues or inquiries, resolving them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, an integration manager may perform clerical tasks such as processing and preparing documentation, performing presentations, and updating clients.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, contracting engineers are more likely to have skills like "windows," "sql," "control systems," and "autocad." But a integration engineer is more likely to have skills like "java," "data analysis," "project management," and "san."
Integration engineers make a very good living in the telecommunication industry with an average annual salary of $103,429. On the other hand, contracting engineers are paid the highest salary in the professional industry, with average annual pay of $119,415.Most integration engineers achieve a higher degree level compared to contracting engineers. For example, they're 5.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Contracting engineer vs. Management engineer
A management engineer specializes in designing and developing systems to optimize business or establishment procedures. Their duties typically revolve around coordinating with various departments to obtain necessary data, conducting observations and inspections to determine the strengths and weaknesses of existing processes, executing maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of services, and performing research and analysis to come up with the ideal solutions. Furthermore, as a management engineer, it is essential to adhere to the company's policies and regulations when making decisions or recommending new systems.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between contracting engineers and management engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a contracting engineer might have more use for skills like "c++," "c #," "python," and "windows." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of management engineers require skills like "infrastructure," "java," "project management," and "azure. "
Management engineers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $102,884. For comparison, contracting engineers earn the highest salary in the professional industry.In general, management engineers hold higher degree levels compared to contracting engineers. Management engineers are 5.1% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of contracting engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
