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Project and design lead vs chief engineer

The differences between project and design leads and chief engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a project and design lead and a chief engineer. Additionally, a chief engineer has an average salary of $108,050, which is higher than the $89,305 average annual salary of a project and design lead.

The top three skills for a project and design lead include CAD, construction drawings and solidworks. The most important skills for a chief engineer are HVAC, plumbing, and customer service.

Project and design lead vs chief engineer overview

Project And Design LeadChief Engineer
Yearly salary$89,305$108,050
Hourly rate$42.94$51.95
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs55,08688,473
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

Project and design lead vs chief engineer salary

Project and design leads and chief engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project And Design LeadChief Engineer
Average salary$89,305$108,050
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $118,000Between $65,000 And $177,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CAPalo Alto, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyEli Lilly and CompanyBGC Partners
Best paying industryFinanceTransportation

Differences between project and design lead and chief engineer education

There are a few differences between a project and design lead and a chief engineer in terms of educational background:

Project And Design LeadChief Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeMichigan Technological UniversityMichigan Technological University

Project and design lead vs chief engineer demographics

Here are the differences between project and design leads' and chief engineers' demographics:

Project And Design LeadChief Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 77.1% Female, 22.9%Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 15.9% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 10.2% White, 71.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between project and design lead and chief engineer duties and responsibilities

Project and design lead example responsibilities.

  • Deliver high-level n-tier architecture design, managing project expectations and timetables throughout all phases of development process.
  • Identify key areas for FPGA design improvement while isolating testing gaps in VHDL.
  • Request enhancements to the PLM product.
  • Work with composite materials, molds and SolidWorks.
  • Work with a 3rd party to utilize Solidworks EPDM software.
  • Develop requirements for customization of PLM product to suit Chrysler business processes.
  • Show more

Chief engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead SQL performance overhaul for SaaS web applications.
  • Manage A/E design contracts, evaluate cost proposals and provide construction inspection.
  • Maintain HVAC/R equipment and kitchen equipment throughout a number of different properties that LPC manages.
  • Manage staff, contracts, vendor relations, bids, projects, RFP's and negotiations.
  • Co-Authore OSHA VPP application and lead ongoing safety training and documentation administration.
  • Initiate and manage several CMMS programs for productivity and inventory control programs.
  • Show more

Project and design lead vs chief engineer skills

Common project and design lead skills
  • CAD, 12%
  • Construction Drawings, 8%
  • Solidworks, 6%
  • Design Concepts, 5%
  • R, 5%
  • QA, 5%
Common chief engineer skills
  • HVAC, 12%
  • Plumbing, 10%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Life Safety Systems, 4%
  • Boilers, 4%
  • Ladders, 3%

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