How to hire a lead engineer and project manager

How to hire a lead engineer and project manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lead engineer and project manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a lead engineer and project manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lead engineer and project manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the lead engineer and project manager you need to hire. Certain lead engineer and project manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a lead engineer and project manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a lead engineer and project manager that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of lead engineer and project managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Lead Engineer And Project Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Lead Engineer And Project Manager	Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.	$33-68
   Principal Engineer	A principal engineer is responsible for monitoring the overall design phase of the construction process, including coordinating with the client for progress and updates, as well as performing adjustments as needed based on clients' specifications and requirements. Principal engineers also inspect the materials and resources used to ensure that the project stays within the budget goals and set timeframe... Show more	$45-85
   Project Engineer	A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation... Show more	$26-48

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • R
   • Product Development
   • Project Scope
   • Project Plan
   • Database
   • Network Infrastructure
   • Status Reports
   • Control Systems
   • HVAC
   • CAD
   • Architecture
   • Cost Estimates
   • Software Development

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Work closely with RF engineers on configuring cell sites in designing optimal coverage.
   • Attend daily status update meetings with various teams including the construction, RF and deployment to track project progress.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lead engineer and project manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A lead engineer and project manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, lead engineer and project managers' average salary in wyoming is 37% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level lead engineer and project managers earn 52% less than senior-level lead engineer and project managers.
   • Certifications. A lead engineer and project manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a lead engineer and project manager's salary.

   Average lead engineer and project manager salary

   $100,060yearly

   $48.11 hourly rate

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   Entry-level lead engineer and project manager salary

   $69,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a lead engineer and project manager job description

   A job description for a lead engineer and project manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a lead engineer and project manager job description:

   Lead engineer and project manager job description example

   Dewberry is seeking a Project Manager/Lead Roadway Engineer for our Tampa, FL office. This is an excellent career opportunity to join a top Transportation Design firm. We are seeking a candidate that will have the opportunity to grow and strengthen our transportation design practice in Central Florida and surrounding areas. The candidate we are seeking must have prior Transportation Project management experience, specifically with FDOT.
   
   Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 50 locations and 2,000 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors are our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you're an experienced professional or a new graduate, you'll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call "Dewberry at Work," that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.
   + Project management of Transportation design projects.
   
   + Daily supervision of support staff and document production.
   
   + Monitoring budgets and schedules.
   
   + Assisting with and collaboration with team members on the marketing of new projects.
   
   + Assisting the Marketing Coordinator with the preparation of proposals.
   
   + Interfacing regularly with clients.
   
   + BS degree in Civil/Transportation Engineering.
   
   + 8-10 years of progressive experience with FDOT or similar public agency projects.
   
   + Florida PE license, or ability to obtain within 1 year.
   
   + Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
   
   + Project management experience.
   
   + A strong background in the design of highways and roads, preferably in Florida.
   
   *At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.
   
   *Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.
   
   *Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry's background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.
   
   ID: 10653
   
   Relocation Bonus Eligible: Yes
   
   Service Line: IES
   
   External Company URL: www.dewberry.com
   
   Street: 1000 North Ashley Drive

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right lead engineer and project manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lead engineer and project manager job on Zippia to find and recruit lead engineer and project manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit lead engineer and project managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lead engineer and project manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the lead engineer and project manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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