Post job
zippia ai icon

Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Engineering program/project manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted experts
Cortnee Young,
Dr. John Ballato
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical engineering program/project manager skills. We ranked the top skills for engineering program/project managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 16.9% of engineering program/project manager resumes contained r as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an engineering program/project manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 engineering program/project manager skills for your resume and career

1. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how engineering program/project managers use r:
  • Developed testing method and pass/fail criteria to validate theft-resistant packaging for Toys R Us.
  • Gathered, cleansed and analyzed data from multiple sources using SQL, R and/or Python.

2. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how engineering program/project managers use product development:
  • Managed new product development projects leading global teams to successfully deliver systems that met or exceeded requirements within schedule and budget.
  • Managed cross-functional teams in product development and support activities, including 3 development teams for desktop application software product.

3. Program Management

Here's how engineering program/project managers use program management:
  • Directed customer interface and provided program management.
  • Manage formal projects using Program Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) standards.

4. Project Management

Here's how engineering program/project managers use project management:
  • Initiated localization for desktop application software product and established project management role to support institutionalization of localization.
  • Developed and deployed corporate project management methodologies across Information Technology organizations.

5. Product Design

Product design can be described as a process of imagining, creating, and iterating products that solve user's problems and talk about the specific needs of users in the market. Product design is an engineering disciple and it is the basic design and idea that goes before the mass production of the product.

Here's how engineering program/project managers use product design:
  • Improved production efficiency by using automation & improving product designs for produce-ability.
  • Worked with external customers as technical sales representative and product design engineer.

6. CAD

Here's how engineering program/project managers use cad:
  • Ensured all changes were implemented and cad releases were updated to the latest level.
  • Create all necessary blueprints of technical security systems using CAD program.

Choose from 10+ customizable engineering program/project manager resume templates

Build a professional engineering program/project manager resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your engineering program/project manager resume.

7. Development Process

Here's how engineering program/project managers use development process:
  • Maintained continuous customer interaction throughout the Design/Development process, the Qualification Test phase and Product Readiness reviews.
  • Lead a team of 20 engineers in deploying CMMI 4 rated development processes throughout all phases of software development.

8. Microsoft Project

Here's how engineering program/project managers use microsoft project:
  • Create time lines using Microsoft Project, follow programs, and interface with the customer.
  • Use Microsoft project & Microsoft Excel for all timeline planing and targeting requirements.

9. Process Improvement

Here's how engineering program/project managers use process improvement:
  • Provided a structured approach to designing, developing, and implementing an effective organization with centralized control and process improvement.
  • Worked closely with Quality on all quality concerns and six sigma analyses resulting in product and process improvement

10. ITIL

Here's how engineering program/project managers use itil:
  • Worked constantly with the Service team and suppliers to implement or improve processes based on ITIL.
  • Utilized the Project Lifecycle model using Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) methodologies.

11. APQP

Here's how engineering program/project managers use apqp:
  • Managed APQP Element Checklist and Open Issues List.
  • Coordinate with Customer and plant for APQP activities.

12. BOM

BOM stands for a bill of materials in design drafting. This list outlines the raw materials, instructions, and components required to manufacture or construct a product or service.

Here's how engineering program/project managers use bom:
  • Maintained Timing/Work Plans, BOMs, Risk & Opptys.
  • Introduced schematics for plumbing layouts and engineering BOM creation to improve time-to-market and product definition.

13. ISO

Here's how engineering program/project managers use iso:
  • Reduced cycle time and time to market along with brought company-wide projects into repeatable FDA and ISO compliance.
  • Played a key role in developing quality control system to support an eventual ISO 9000 certification.

14. Cost Reduction

Here's how engineering program/project managers use cost reduction:
  • Led identification of low-cost supplier transition opportunities for cost reduction and achievement of Small Business participation goals.
  • Developed proposals for the improvement of product quality plan and informed management any cost reduction for improvements.

15. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how engineering program/project managers use sigma:
  • Applied Design Flow, using Analysis Led Design and Design for Six Sigma to generate, select, and develop designs.
  • Developed and performed Design of experiments (DOE) for problem solving needs using six sigma tools.
top-skills

What skills help Engineering Program/Project Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on engineering program/project manager resumes?

Cortnee YoungCortnee Young LinkedIn profile

Lecturer of Marketing and Business Communications, Dalton State

I believe that in addition to education, experiences and skills should stand out the most on a student resume. Students should seek out work opportunities including part-time jobs, internships, or job shadowing opportunities while obtaining a degree. This shows that student put forth effort to educate themselves outside of the classroom. For skills, listing things learned in the classroom and outside of the classroom is important to show.

What soft skills should all engineering program/project managers possess?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

To me, the most important soft skill has always been communication. And, due to the pandemic where people have had to isolate and possibly quarantine, effective communications are even that much more critical. We're spending less face-to-face time and more screen-to-screen time, which gets boring quickly. So, paying attention, being clear and concise in your communications since you don't have the opportunities as often now to simply walk into someone's lab or office and talk through ideas and next steps. Effective communications are also especially important in materials science and engineering because our field is innately interdisciplinary. This means that you might be the only materials scientist on a team that includes marketing, sales, manufacturing, etc. Knowing your audience, including your project team, and learning how to communicate with them is critical.

What hard/technical skills are most important for engineering program/project managers?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

Important hard/technical skills really depend on the nature of the job/position and the organization. This really relates back to the What Skills Stand Out question. Employers want to know that employees have the requisite "toolbox" of basic skills and a willingness and aptitude to learn on the job. No person comes out of school with all the skills and experiences needed for a given job, so organizations inevitably continue to provide training on product-specific skills. Knowing how to learn, wanting to learn, and admitting what you don't know are as important, if not more so, than any hard/technical skills one gains during their education.

What engineering program/project manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Yi Yang PhDYi Yang PhD LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Abington

In the next 3-5 years, I believe management skills will become increasingly important. Engineers who can bridge the gap between technical complexity and business strategy, driving innovation and growth in their organizations will be very valuable.

What type of skills will young engineering program/project managers need?

Randy Jacobs

Instructional Assistant Professor, Construction Management, Professional Practice Coordinator, Illinois State University

Many of the skill sets will remain the same: problem solving, communication and leadership. CM graduates are accustomed to being mobile moving from job to job and working at off-site locations. But some of those skill sets will be put to the test as the need for more "digital presence" is required of companies and construction projects.

What technical skills for an engineering program/project manager stand out to employers?

Patrick AtkinsonPatrick Atkinson LinkedIn profile

Professor, Kettering University

Broadly speaking, employers are looking for employees who can jump in, take on a project and move things forward. Since engineers are data-driven, knowing how to read and interpret findings from a variety of sources is key. This can be very challenging if the data conflicts between sources or the data is unclear. Whether the data is from a mathematical model, a physical test laboratory, or from the field, learning how to synthesize the findings and balance the strengths/weaknesses of a given data source are key. At the end of the day, every project needs a way forward and it is the engineer's job to optimize a design to meet the objectives for the product.

List of engineering program/project manager skills to add to your resume

Engineering program/project manager skills

The most important skills for an engineering program/project manager resume and required skills for an engineering program/project manager to have include:

  • R
  • Product Development
  • Program Management
  • Project Management
  • Product Design
  • CAD
  • Development Process
  • Microsoft Project
  • Process Improvement
  • ITIL
  • APQP
  • BOM
  • ISO
  • Cost Reduction
  • Sigma
  • Engineering Changes
  • Earned Value Management
  • NPI
  • OEM
  • Product Quality
  • PPAP
  • Aerospace
  • Cost Savings
  • GPS
  • Risk Management
  • FMEA
  • PMO
  • PCB
  • FAA
  • NASA
  • Management System
  • DOD
  • SPC
  • IP
  • Cost Estimates
  • Technical Leadership
  • HVAC
  • QA
  • Design Changes
  • Configuration Management
  • Cloud
  • Chrysler
  • Business Development
  • DFMEA
  • EVM
  • System Engineering
  • Direct Reports
  • Technical Issues

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse executive management jobs