What does a project lead engineer do?
Project lead engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for leading other professionals in completing a particular project. These engineers must develop a project management framework to be implemented throughout the organization based on the inputs from internal stakeholders and team members. They are required to train junior team members so that they can provide proper technical support functions. Project lead engineers must also prepare and review cost estimates for a variety of projects during bidding, construction, and post-construction phases.
Project lead engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real project lead engineer resumes:
- Manage IP environments using Cisco and Microsoft products.
- Lead manufacturing process of all parts using lathe, mill, and CNC in university machine shop.
- Manage the reverse engineering of all standard product lines to create SolidWorks models, product conceptualizations, and detail drawings.
- Lead numerous ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 implementations from planning through certification in industries ranging from medical devices to government services.
- Manage calibration system for multiple facilities/countries to assure compliance to ISO requirements.
- Partner with the corporate PMO team to standardize reporting requirements for functionally manage initiatives.
- Assist in DFM and quoting activities.
- Assist in the design and ensure the manufacturability (DFM and DFT) and engineering design projects.
- Generate scripts necessary for RF optimization.
- Reverse engineered tooling and capture information in cad.
- Perform research and development of advance HVAC equipment for the residential market emphasizing energy and cost efficiency.
- Manage Linux/Apache server configuration for company version control and bug tracking, creating PHP/MySQL database on server for product specification library.
- Network protocol programming - IP, VOIP, SS7, FTP.
- Compile and submit all require reports by EPA and internal EHS deadlines to allow, uninterrupt testing of new engine product.
- Participate in writing proposals and estimates in response to RFP's.
Project lead engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Project Lead Engineers are proficient in Project Management, Renewable Energy, and Project Execution. They’re also known for soft skills such as Speaking skills, Writing skills, and Creativity.
We break down the percentage of Project Lead Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 14%
Project management concepts, practices, procedures including basic accounting, personnel management, purchasing, contract administration, general administration.
- Renewable Energy, 7%
Designed renewable energy lab environment for prototyping and evaluation of micro-grid, smart grid and renewable energy systems and components.
- Project Execution, 5%
Developed Project Execution Strategies and Plans, including management of interfaces and effective shutdown execution strategies for all assigned projects.
- Engineering Design, 3%
Coordinated all product development activities ranging from engineering design, to qualification/testing, to certification, to initial production.
- Autocad, 3%
Supervised multiple Pro-E and AutoCAD design engineers throughout various prototype and existing product projects.
- R, 3%
Translated interpolation and validation rainfall models from R to Java for application development.
Most project lead engineers use their skills in "project management," "renewable energy," and "project execution" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential project lead engineer responsibilities here:
Speaking skills. One of the key soft skills for a project lead engineer to have is speaking skills. You can see how this relates to what project lead engineers do because "industrial engineers sometimes have to explain their instructions to production staff or technicians before they can make written instructions available." Additionally, a project lead engineer resume shows how project lead engineers use speaking skills: "produce documentation to support meetingrequirements/speaking points to discuss and determine project scope, issues, new requirement, and futureopportunities. "
Writing skills. Many project lead engineer duties rely on writing skills. "industrial engineers must prepare documentation for other engineers or scientists, or for future reference," so a project lead engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways project lead engineer responsibilities rely on writing skills: "repair and process writing and project management for all products in the digital area. "
Creativity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of project lead engineers is creativity. This skill is critical to many everyday project lead engineer duties, as "industrial engineers use creativity and ingenuity to design new production processes in many kinds of settings in order to reduce the use of material resources, time, or labor while accomplishing the same goal." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "create 3d equipment design and arrangement models using inventor and solidworks programs. "
Listening skills. For certain project lead engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "listening skills." The day-to-day duties of a project lead engineer rely on this skill, as "these engineers often operate in teams, but they also must solicit feedback from customers, vendors, and production staff." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what project lead engineers do: "worked with, and communicated effectively with customers, vendors, organizations technical disciplines and project management team. "
Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in project lead engineer job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what project lead engineers do. Project lead engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "in designing facilities for manufacturing and processes for providing services, these engineers deal with several issues at once, from workers’ safety to quality assurance." You can also see how project lead engineer duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "focused on implementing lean iso solutions. "
Math skills. Another skill commonly found on project lead engineer job descriptions is "math skills." It can come up quite often in project lead engineer duties, since "industrial engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day project lead engineer responsibilities: "utilize catia v5 cad software to develop model geometry and finite element mesh for thermal analysis. "
The three companies that hire the most project lead engineers are:
- Honeywell103 project lead engineers jobs
- Conagra Brands43 project lead engineers jobs
- L3Harris41 project lead engineers jobs
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Compare different project lead engineers
Project lead engineer vs. Senior engineer
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, project lead engineer responsibilities require skills like "renewable energy," "project execution," "engineering design," and "autocad." Meanwhile a typical senior engineer has skills in areas such as "java," "python," "architecture," and "c #." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Senior engineers tend to make the most money working in the start-up industry, where they earn an average salary of $125,167. In contrast, project lead engineers make the biggest average salary, $121,074, in the automotive industry.The education levels that senior engineers earn slightly differ from project lead engineers. In particular, senior engineers are 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a project lead engineer. Additionally, they're 1.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project lead engineer vs. Design engineer
A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real project lead engineer resumes. While project lead engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "renewable energy," "project execution," "autocad," and "project scope," design engineers use skills like "ul," "work ethic," "auto cad," and "gd."
On average, design engineers earn a lower salary than project lead engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, design engineers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $86,213. Whereas project lead engineers have higher pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $121,074.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Design engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than project lead engineers. In fact, they're 4.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for project lead engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Richard Onyancha
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Department Head, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Project lead engineer vs. Development engineer
A Development Engineer is responsible for the development and validation of products, systems, and components. They are also responsible for quality control of work and continuous improvement of engineer activities.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from project lead engineer resumes include skills like "project execution," "engineering design," "autocad," and "project scope," whereas a development engineer is more likely to list skills in "java," "python," "c #," and "software development. "
Development engineers make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $105,648. On the other hand, project lead engineers are paid the highest salary in the automotive industry, with average annual pay of $121,074.When it comes to education, development engineers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to project lead engineers. In fact, they're 0.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Project lead engineer vs. Tool engineer
A tooling engineer is responsible for creating and adjusting tools or parts for cars, heavy equipment, and other products that need customized or personalized components. Your duties and responsibilities will include creating design blueprints, using computer-aided (CAD) software to develop two- and three-dimensional prints, and validating and evaluating products. As a tooling engineer, it is your responsibility to ensure compliance with operational standards such as the ISO 9000. You also have to provide technical assistance to manufacturing personnel and quality assurance.
Types of project lead engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
