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What is a project manager/senior project engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.,
Brian Denton Ph.D.

Project managers/senior project engineers utilize their skills in leadership, organization, and management to ensure that deadlines are met, and client specifications are satisfied accordingly. That said, this job typically requires a high level of education as well as extensive experience in the industry, usually spanning from three to five years at the minimum.

The duties of a project manager/senior project engineer revolve around planning projects, managing budgets, delegating tasks, creating work schedules, monitoring timelines, and communicating with clients, among many others. They are also responsible for leading and motivating employees, as well as addressing any concerns that they may have.

To become a project manager/senior project engineer, one must possess at least a bachelor's degree in a business or management-related field. More than that, one must have at least three to five years of related work experience to qualify, depending on the employer's requirements.

Although the path to becoming a project manager/senior project engineer may be tough, the reward is well worth it. To illustrate, the average salary of a project manager/senior project engineer is around $53 an hour, or a whopping $110,000 per year.

What general advice would you give to a project manager/senior project engineer?

Nicole Jones Young Ph.D.Nicole Jones Young Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

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 Manager/Senior Project EngineerUS Average
Salary
8.3

Avg. Salary $125,350

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 11.40%

Black or African American 4.82%

Hispanic or Latino 11.85%

Unknown 3.96%

White 67.79%

Gender

female 10.31%

male 89.69%

Age - 41
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 - 41
Stress level
7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Project manager/senior project engineer career paths

Key steps to become a project manager/senior project engineer

  1. Explore project manager/senior project engineer education requirements

    Most common project manager/senior project engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.2 %

    Master's

    17.3 %

    Associate

    9.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific project manager/senior project engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management23.65%
    Project Scope8.63%
    Autocad4.74%
    Business Development4.44%
    SR Project4.21%
  3. Complete relevant project manager/senior project engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New project managers/senior project engineer 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 manager/senior project engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real project manager/senior project engineer resumes.
  4. Research project manager/senior project engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Develop and manage many products for wireless and RF test and measurement industry.
    • Manage programs under DOD contracts for reclamation and reuse of ammonium perchlorate and HMX from propellants and warheads.
    • Develop & implement a quality system database and metrics to manage and reduce customer claims through corrective/preventive actions to ISO standards.
    • Contract and manage services of architectural/engineering design firms, geotechnical and material testing firms, environmental consultants, and transportation consultants.
  5. Get project manager/senior project engineer experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a project manager/senior project engineer. The most common roles before becoming a project manager/senior project engineer include project engineer, project manager team lead and senior project manager.
  6. Prepare your project manager/senior project engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your project manager/senior project engineer 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 manager/senior project engineer 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 manager/senior project engineer resume templates

    Build a professional project manager/senior project engineer 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 manager/senior project engineer resume.
    Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Resume
    Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Resume
    Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Resume
    Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Resume
    Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Resume
    Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Resume
    Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Resume
    Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Resume
    Project Manager/Senior Project Engineer Resume
  7. Apply for project manager/senior project engineer jobs

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

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

How did you land your first project manager/senior project engineer job

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Average project manager/senior project engineer salary

The average project manager/senior project engineer salary in the United States is $125,350 per year or $60 per hour. Project manager/senior project engineer salaries range between $87,000 and $178,000 per year.

Average project manager/senior project engineer salary
$125,350 Yearly
$60.26 hourly

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How do project managers/senior project engineer rate their job?

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Project manager/senior project engineer reviews

profile
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.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Cons

have to change my mindset


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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.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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