The project engineer is very similar to and is often an interchangeable position with the construction engineer. A project engineer job description characterizes the nature of their work as applying the engineering design process to construction to create buildings and structures that the architect has designed. This position fosters the organization side of the project including management and leadership. They need to be prepared to work in all weather conditions and visit the site of the construction project.
What Does a Project Engineer Do?
Project engineers must oversee the construction of many different types of buildings and structures. That goes from residential to a government to business. They need to work at the higher systems level to see how all of the moving parts on different projects are going to come together. Meaning, part of a project engineer does in construction is to make sure it’s completed on-time and under budget. They have a collaborative relationship with both white and blue collar workers. Therefore, they need to communicate successfully to both groups. Project engineers need to work with architects, civil engineers, and the clients, as well as with carpenters, painters, and construction workers.
The preferred education for a project engineer is a bachelor’s degree in an engineering or construction-related field. To be the head project engineer a few years of work experience is needed. There is no required license, but optional certification gives a sense of the knowledge and experience the project engineer has. Their median project engineer salary is $87,400.
Project Engineer Job Description for Resume – Responsibilities
The project engineer job description is going to vary based on the company they work for and the construction projects that are ongoing. The following job responsibilities are good building blocks for the previous work experience section of a resume.
- Provide an overall plan for the completion of the construction project from start to finish.
- Communicate this plan to subcontractors, so they know their budget, deadline, and material requirements.
- Collaborate with architects, other engineers, and assistant project engineers to delegate the responsibilities for the project.
- Visit the construction site to monitor progress and resolve potential issues.
- Draft contract and budget agreements with clients.
- Keep clients updated on the progress of the project, any roadblocks, and alternative suggestions for completion.
- Hire the subcontractors for the project, determine their pay rate, and let them know approximately for how long the project needs them.
Project Engineer Required Skills
- Organization skills. This is especially important for project engineers that have to manage more than one project. Successfully organizing and documenting workflows will create a more streamlined and effective process for completing the projects.
- Presentation skills. Being able to clearly communicate and successfully present plans to clients, colleagues, and market are important parts of being a successful project engineer.
- Technical skills. Construction blueprints and the processes needed to make the blueprints come to the fruition are complicated. Project engineers need to understand them at a higher, technical level. Subsequently, they need to explain them in a way that is understandable to people without the technical background.
- Decision-making skills. There are many decisions to make over the course of a project. These range from hiring the right subcontractors to making material or building choices that impact the bottom line. Someone who can make wise decisions will be invaluable to the project.
These project engineer job description skills are based off a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics description of skills for construction managers.
How to Become a Project Engineer
While a bachelor’s degree is preferable, the right candidate who has several years of experience in construction and has taken the initiative to learn various skills may be able to land the position of the project engineer. Thus, the project engineer qualifications vary.
Education & Training Requirements
The basic education required to be a project engineer is a bachelor’s degree in a construction, architecture, or engineering related field. A minor or certificate in business is a valuable complement to the bachelor’s degree. There are times when extensive experience can serve as the equivalent, but for entry-level employees earning the degree is preferrable. Construction is more complex than it was previously. Today, they require expertise in engineering, business, following code and policies, budgeting, and leadership.
There are over 100 higher education institutions that offer a degree in construction science or construction engineering. Many classes cover project engineering within this degree program. If you have a goal of managing a large project or several different projects at the same time, then this is the degree to earn. Individuals who are interested in working on smaller projects or working under the head project engineer can earn their associate’s degree is a construction related program.
If an individual already has their bachelor’s degree, but it is not in construction science or engineering, they can earn their master’s degree in the same field. It is crucial that the master’s degree focuses on actual practice.
There are no required licenses in most states, but they can give project engineers an external credential that they have a certain amount of experience and expertise. The two groups that offer certification are the Construction Management Association of America and the American Institute of Constructors. However, you need to investigate the policy in your state. A few states specify the type of license needed to practice as a project engineer.
Work Experience
Very few people will start their career as an engineer for a large project or several smaller projects. Rather, it is typical for those who have their degree to practice as a project engineer assistant, then a project engineer associate, and finally a senior project engineer.
If someone is looking on how to become a project engineer and they do not have the degree, then work experience becomes critical. In this experience, they should seek out internships, cooperative learning programs, and prior work in construction. Having experience in more than one area of construction, for example in masonry and electric work leads to a more well-rounded project engineer.
Work Schedules
The between project engineers who work full-time for a construction company and those that are self-employed is fairly even. Virtually, part of a project engineer job description is to work at least 40 hours a week. When a project deadline looms, their hours may significantly increase. The most common industries to work in are specialty trade, nonresidential business construction, and residential business construction.
These professionals should anticipate traveling between job sites and the office regularly. In addition, they should prepare to work in all weather conditions. Even when the project engineer is off their shift, they may need to work in the event of an emergency, problem, or issue.
Career Prospects
The job outlook for project engineers is highly dependent on the economy, both at the local and federal level. In areas with high economic growth, project engineers will see a higher demand for their skills and knowledge. In areas that are struggling there will be less construction, and thus less need for project engineers. Project engineers who have experience in maintaining infrastructure will have high value. That’s because the infrastructure across the United States needs updating. There are simple things that a job candidate can do to strengthen their application such as majoring in a related field, showing a commitment to gaining work experience, and having content knowledge in the construction field.
The median salary for project engineers is $87,400. The two industries that paid the most are civil engineering construction and nonresidential building construction. There are a lot of advancement opportunities for project engineers. Those who excel in this position can get to higher levels of management within construction engineering. Ultimately, a part of the project engineer job description is that they could end in the role of Chief Operating Officer for a construction firm.
Conclusion
This project engineer job description has shown the value of having this person as a member of the construction and engineering team. There are several skills to master to be effective in this position. The right candidate for this job will have experience in designing, leading, managing, organizing, and delegating.