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Project team lead vs project lead engineer

The differences between project team leads and project lead engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a project team lead, becoming a project lead engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a project lead engineer has an average salary of $106,946, which is higher than the $105,306 average annual salary of a project team lead.

The top three skills for a project team lead include project management, R and project scope. The most important skills for a project lead engineer are project management, renewable energy, and project execution.

Project team lead vs project lead engineer overview

Project Team LeadProject Lead Engineer
Yearly salary$105,306$106,946
Hourly rate$50.63$51.42
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs125,53998,018
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4442
Years of experience64

What does a project team lead do?

A project team lead sets up the expectations for the team members. Project team leads are in charge of setting the direction for the team members. They see to it that the members will not stray from the team's goals. They lead and engage in project works. It is their job to maintain the dynamics of the team. It is their aim not to fail in their management and leadership skills. They need to have conflict and resolution skills, communication skills, attention to detail, and patience.

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 team lead vs project lead engineer salary

Project team leads and project lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project Team LeadProject Lead Engineer
Average salary$105,306$106,946
Salary rangeBetween $80,000 And $137,000Between $78,000 And $146,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CACupertino, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyCitiApple
Best paying industryFinanceAutomotive

Differences between project team lead and project lead engineer education

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

Project Team LeadProject Lead Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNorthwestern University

Project team lead vs project lead engineer demographics

Here are the differences between project team leads' and project lead engineers' demographics:

Project Team LeadProject Lead Engineer
Average age4442
Gender ratioMale, 67.6% Female, 32.4%Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 15.2% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%4%

Differences between project team lead and project lead engineer duties and responsibilities

Project team lead example responsibilities.

  • Manage UAT, build test plans, regression testing, compile results, training.
  • Lead the program integration effort for a major conversion / upgrade of ERP software for military aircraft production programs.
  • Design SharePoint Wiki sites, and manage SharePoint environment.
  • Manage RFP large scale network/infrastructure relate expansion, integration, and/or decommissioning projects.
  • Lead team that develop an integrate database with a web-base user interface that allow repair crews in locating information and equipment.
  • Design and implement SQL data table setup and program financial and payroll system interfaces.
  • Show more

Project lead engineer example responsibilities.

  • 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.
  • Show more

Project team lead vs project lead engineer skills

Common project team lead skills
  • Project Management, 15%
  • R, 8%
  • Project Scope, 6%
  • Logistics, 6%
  • Database, 5%
  • HVAC, 5%
Common project lead engineer skills
  • Project Management, 14%
  • Renewable Energy, 7%
  • Project Execution, 5%
  • Engineering Design, 3%
  • Autocad, 3%
  • R, 3%

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