What does a Project Engineer do?
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. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Project engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real project engineer resumes:
- Manage TCP/IP LAN environment for the time during implementation.
- Support and manage the development of a CNC base electron beam drill.
- Lead a MGPP six sigma project to improve the accuracy of 3D clutch cooling analysis
- Manage the BHP enterprise wide migration from e-rooms to SharePoint for document management and team collaboration.
- Manage the installation of a CNC laser cutting system with full responsibility for all aspects of the project.
- Coordinate and manage activities of the 787-9 IPT's to complete the specific aircraft side of the test cells.
- Implement a Microsoft SharePoint site structure for project management, task management, and tracking of engineering performance metrics.
- Manage custom product design & generate all require documentation for both customer and manufacturing groups using AutoCAD rel.
- Convert CATIA V4 drawings and models to CATIA V5.
- Used javascript for VR animation.
- Work on EPC contracting exhibits and appendices.
- Have extensive practical experience on U.S. DoD acquisitions.
- Contribute to RFQ and RFI proposals for DOD contracts.
- Reduce design time and cost by instituting cad libraries.
- Supervise drafting of part drawings and assemblies for prototyping and product release.
Project engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Project Engineers are proficient in Project Management, Autocad, and Construction Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Mechanical skills, Listening skills, and Creativity.
We break down the percentage of Project Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 12%
Provided project management and technical execution and acted as liaison between command and regulatory agencies for all environmental program issues.
- Autocad, 7%
Generated AutoCAD drawings for facility modifications as well as for the manufacturing of custom parts and components for development projects.
- Construction Management, 6%
Mastered construction management skills such as quantity-takeoff, estimating, scheduling, subcontractor negotiations, and bid presentation.
- CAD, 4%
Prepared CAD models prototype based on constraint specifications, engineering calculations, dimensional measurements, detailed drawings and design requirements.
- UL, 4%
Supervised motor testing and certification to UL, CSA and other international certification standards.
- Cost Estimates, 3%
Determined project specifications by studying product design, customer requirements, performance standards; completing technical studies and preparing cost estimates.
"project management," "autocad," and "construction management" are among the most common skills that project engineers use at work. You can find even more project engineer responsibilities below, including:
Mechanical skills. The most essential soft skill for a project engineer to carry out their responsibilities is mechanical skills. This skill is important for the role because "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." Additionally, a project engineer resume shows how their duties depend on mechanical skills: "designed mechanical parts and developed engineering drawings. "
Listening skills. Many project engineer duties rely on listening skills. "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists," so a project engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways project engineer responsibilities rely on listening skills: "communicated analysis results to product groups and participated in 6 sigma projects to help drive virtual product development. "
Creativity. project engineers are also known for creativity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to project engineer responsibilities, because "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." A project engineer resume example shows how creativity is used in the workplace: "managed and created autocad mechanical and inventor drawings and models for various projects and custom manufactured automated wash system equipment. "
Math skills. project engineer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." This resume example shows what project engineers do with math skills on a typical day: "construct cad working drawings and geometry of pre-cast components for pre-cast manufacturer. "
Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a project engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what project engineers relies on this skill, since "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." How this skill relates to project engineer duties can be seen in an example from a project engineer resume snippet: "developed interlock solutions for control systems. "
The three companies that hire the most project engineers are:
- HNTB118 project engineers jobs
- Raytheon Technologies93 project engineers jobs
- Gilbane Building Company91 project engineers jobs
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Compare different project engineers
Project engineer vs. Mechanical design engineer
A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between project engineers and mechanical design engineer. For instance, project engineer responsibilities require skills such as "autocad," "construction management," "cost estimates," and "project scope." Whereas a mechanical design engineer is skilled in "mechanical design," "gd," "creo," and "mechanical systems." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Mechanical design engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $87,483. On the other hand, project engineers are paid more in the energy industry with an average salary of $85,761.On average, mechanical design engineers reach similar levels of education than project engineers. Mechanical design engineers are 0.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Project engineer vs. Research and development engineer
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real project engineer resumes. While project engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "autocad," "construction management," "cost estimates," and "engineering design," research and development engineers use skills like "python," "c #," "data analysis," and "patients."
Research and development engineers earn a higher average salary than project engineers. But research and development engineers earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $107,654. Additionally, project engineers earn the highest salaries in the energy with average pay of $85,761 annually.In general, research and development engineers achieve higher levels of education than project engineers. They're 5.9% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Project 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
Project engineer vs. Manufacturing engineer
Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for handling and developing an efficient manufacturing system or procedure that will help a company produce up to standard products while in adherence to the policies, regulations, and expected cost and schedule. Furthermore, Manufacturing Engineers must also monitor quality control, identify or detect errors, provide and suggest improvements, oversee the procurement of materials involved in the production, and coordinate with various teams or departments within the company to ensure the effectiveness of innovations or new developments.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, project engineers are more likely to have skills like "autocad," "construction management," "ul," and "cost estimates." But a manufacturing engineer is more likely to have skills like "lean manufacturing," "corrective action," "process control," and "troubleshoot."
Manufacturing engineers earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $81,429. Project engineers earn the highest pay from the energy industry, with an average salary of $85,761.Most manufacturing engineers achieve a similar degree level compared to project engineers. For example, they're 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project engineer vs. Mechanical engineer
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between project engineers and mechanical engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a project engineer might have more use for skills like "autocad," "construction management," "project scope," and "engineering projects." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of mechanical engineers require skills like "mechanical systems," "mechanical design," "plumbing," and "creo. "
Mechanical engineers enjoy the best pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $84,748. For comparison, project engineers earn the highest salary in the energy industry.In general, mechanical engineers hold similar degree levels compared to project engineers. Mechanical engineers are 0.9% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of project engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
