Post job

What is a lead engineer and project manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.
The average lead engineer and project manager salary is $100,060. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an electrical engineering major. It usually takes more than 10 years of experience to become a lead engineer and project manager. Lead engineer and project managers with a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 2% and produce 4,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a lead engineer and project manager?

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.Nicole Jones Young Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Franklin and Marshall College

Be flexible. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a lot of uncertainty, but has created new opportunities in others. Staying flexible allows individuals to shift focus away from industries or occupations that may be in decline, and re-focus on employment opportunities that may be more aligned with our current moment.
ScoreLead Engineer And Project ManagerUS Average
Salary
7.6

Avg. Salary $100,060

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 14.16%

Black or African American 3.07%

Hispanic or Latino 8.76%

Unknown 4.66%

White 69.19%

Gender

female 13.03%

male 86.97%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Lead engineer and project manager career paths

Key steps to become a lead engineer and project manager

  1. Explore lead engineer and project manager education requirements

    Most common lead engineer and project manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.7 %

    Master's

    18.8 %

    Associate

    11.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific lead engineer and project manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management18.18%
    R7.42%
    Product Development4.92%
    Project Scope4.38%
    Project Plan3.66%
  3. Complete relevant lead engineer and project manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead engineer and project managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lead engineer and project manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead engineer and project manager resumes.
  4. Research lead engineer and project manager duties and responsibilities

    • Work with QA leads to review test plans, test strategies and test cases to ensure complete test coverage.
    • Manage a clinical instrumentation program and its consumables following ISO guidelines.
    • Contract and manage services of architectural/engineering design firms, geotechnical and material testing firms, environmental consultants, and transportation consultants.
    • Provide training in engineering, AutoCAD and technical support systems.
  5. Get lead engineer and project manager experience

    Generally, it takes more than 10 years to become a lead engineer and project manager. The most common roles before becoming a lead engineer and project manager include project engineer, project manager team lead and software engineer.
  6. Prepare your lead engineer and project manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead engineer and project manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a lead engineer and project manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable lead engineer and project manager resume templates

    Build a professional lead engineer and project manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your lead engineer and project manager resume.
    Lead Engineer And Project Manager Resume
    Lead Engineer And Project Manager Resume
    Lead Engineer And Project Manager Resume
    Lead Engineer And Project Manager Resume
    Lead Engineer And Project Manager Resume
    Lead Engineer And Project Manager Resume
    Lead Engineer And Project Manager Resume
    Lead Engineer And Project Manager Resume
    Lead Engineer And Project Manager Resume
  7. Apply for lead engineer and project manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a lead engineer and project manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first lead engineer and project manager job

Zippi

Are you a lead engineer and project manager?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average lead engineer and project manager salary

The average lead engineer and project manager salary in the United States is $100,060 per year or $48 per hour. Lead engineer and project manager salaries range between $69,000 and $143,000 per year.

Average lead engineer and project manager salary
$100,060 Yearly
$48.11 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do lead engineer and project managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Lead engineer and project manager reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2023
Pros

I like to work with a team. Satisfaction of seeing the successful completion of a project

Cons

Strict deadlines, and stakeholders. Feeling undervalued or underappreciated.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I enjoy problem-solving and identifying a path to completing a complex project. I like to ensure that moving parts come together smoothly and communicating successes and celebrating with the team.

Cons

Without the right support from project sponsors, a project manager is doomed to failure. There is an enormous amount of responsibility on a project manager to deliver a product on time and on budget, though without proper authority or backing, it's basically wheel spinning.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

I like working with Clients and challenges.

Cons

I would rather work remote with little travel.


Working as a lead engineer and project manager? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

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