What is a project engineering manager and how to become one

Q: Can anyone become a project manager?

Yes, anyone can become a project manager. Many project managers are team members that have been promoted into the position based on the project's subject matter. A project manager should be very organized, a good leader, and has great attention to detail. These skills are important at this position and require knowledge of all aspects of a given project.

Q: Can engineers become project managers?

Yes, engineers can become project managers. In fact, engineering project managers must have a strong background in the fundamentals of engineering. Without that background, it's practically impossible to manage complex engineering projects. This is true for mechanical, chemical, or civil engineering project management, regardless of the specialization.

Q: How many years does it take to become an engineering project manager?

It takes seven to nine years to become an engineering project manager. This time includes the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree and the three to five years of work experience needed to be eligible for the position.

Q: What is the difference between a project manager and an engineering manager?

The difference between a project manager and an engineering manager lies in the scope of their responsibilities. Project managers, for example, are responsible for managing the work and content of a project, whereas engineering managers are responsible for managing the people of their department.

Q: What makes a good engineering project manager?

What makes a good project manager is someone skilled at leadership and time management, has strong people skills, and knows how to manage a team effectively. The transition from engineer to project manager can sometimes be difficult unless an engineer has developed the skills needed to be a good engineering project manager.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a project manager?

The qualifications required to become a project manager depend on the industry you're working in. Because of the large scope of responsibilities, the project manager needs to have had a relevant education. Typically candidates have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in computer science or business.

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.,

Brian Denton Ph.D.

A project engineering manager is an individual who oversees the planning, design, and execution of engineering projects. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed to the satisfaction of stakeholders. A project engineering manager works closely with a team of engineers and other professionals to set project goals, develop project plans, and manage project resources. They also communicate with clients or customers to understand their needs and ensure that the project meets their requirements.

What general advice would you give to a project engineering manager?

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.

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.

ScoreProject Engineering ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.9

Avg. Salary $110,534

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 11.97%

Black or African American 3.13%

Hispanic or Latino 8.97%

Unknown 4.69%

White 71.08%

Gender

female 12.20%

male 87.80%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a project engineering manager?

Pros

Opportunity to lead a team and mentor engineers
High level of responsibility and accountability
Exposure to various projects and industries
Competitive salary and benefits
Development of project management skills

Cons

High stress and pressure to meet project deadlines
Long hours, including evenings and weekends
Constant need to balance competing priorities
Heavy workload and frequent multitasking
Potential for conflict or miscommunication among team members

Key steps to become a project engineering manager

Explore project engineering manager education requirements

Most common project engineering manager degrees

Bachelor's

72.2 %

Master's

14.1 %

Associate

10.2 %

Start to develop specific project engineering manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	22.49%
Project Scope	6.25%
Engineering Design	4.40%
Autocad	3.77%
Capital Projects	3.74%

Complete relevant project engineering manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New project engineering 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 project engineering manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real project engineering manager resumes.

Research project engineering manager duties and responsibilities

Interview, hire and manage engineering and cad teams to accomplish all projects acquire with quality and on-time delivery.
Manage APQP tasks and submit documentation to customer.
Lead an engineering team that develop a vision technology product resulting in winning multiple DOD awards.
Manage UL, FCC and ANSI testing of new products and product production with contract manufacturers.

Prepare your project engineering manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your project engineering 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 project engineering 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 project engineering manager resume templates

Build a professional project engineering 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 project engineering manager resume.

Apply for project engineering manager jobs

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

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

Average project engineering manager salary

The average project engineering manager salary in the United States is $110,534 per year or $53 per hour. Project engineering manager salaries range between $79,000 and $153,000 per year.

Average project engineering manager salary

$110,534 Yearly

$53.14 hourly

How do project engineering managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Project engineering manager reviews

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.

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.

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.

Project engineering manager FAQs

What is a project engineering manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a project engineering manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a project engineering manager?

Project engineering manager career paths

Key steps to become a project engineering manager

Explore project engineering manager education requirements

Most common project engineering manager degrees

Start to develop specific project engineering manager skills

Complete relevant project engineering manager training and internships

Research project engineering manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your project engineering manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable project engineering manager resume templates

Apply for project engineering manager jobs

How did you land your first project engineering manager job

Average project engineering manager salary

How do project engineering managers rate their job?

Project engineering manager reviews

Project engineering manager FAQs

Can anyone become a project manager?

Can engineers become project managers?

How many years does it take to become an engineering project manager?

What is the difference between a project manager and an engineering manager?

What makes a good engineering project manager?

What qualifications do you need to be a project manager?

Search for project engineering manager jobs