project engineer job description

The daily duties and responsibilities of project engineers include: preparing and scheduling projects: as a project engineer, you coordinate and monitor tasks associated with a project. You split tasks and assign the duties to professionals with the necessary skills and competency. communicating with the project team and stakeholders: as a project engineer, you interact with clients to determine the requirements of a project. You also interpret the requirements and project needs of the clients. When the project commences, you provide updates on the progress of the project. maintaining quality control: as a project engineer, you implement processes and check for quality in every aspect of the project. You develop quality controls for team dynamics, personnel performance and scheduling to avoid falling behind on the project. You also review engineering deliverables and initiate corrective actions when mistakes are made. monitoring compliance: as a project engineer, you ensure the project site is compliant with the rules and regulations. You monitor the safety standards and ensure the work environment is safe for the team. Your job is to make sure the company complies with the regulations in all aspects of a project.

As a project engineer, you work in an office environment when preparing project plans and reports. You also attend meetings with various stakeholders of the project. Since your work involves working on-site, you spend time on construction or manufacturing sites. It is important to wear protective clothing when working on engineering projects.

who are your colleagues?

Project engineers work with various professionals with technical knowledge of a project. For instance, you work alongside civil engineers , mechanical engineers and factory managers. You collaborate with project managers and operations managers to ensure the projects are completed on time. Project engineers also work with construction managers , contractors and architects .

As a full-time project engineer, you work 40 hours a week. The work hours vary depending on the project's urgency. For instance, an urgent construction project will require more working hours to complete on time. Some project engineers work part-time or on a contract basis providing technical expertise on a project basis.

As a project engineer, you have a promising career with good growth prospects. For instance, you are well-positioned to become the project manager or construction manager of a project. Alternatively, specialise in a particular industry and become an operations manager or a consultant .

advantages of finding a project engineer job through randstad

Finding your project engineer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as: a wide variety of training and development opportunities an experienced contact person to provide help if needed a range of opportunities in your area get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job temporary and permanent contracts Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a project engineer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!

is a project engineer a good job?

As a project engineer, you are essential in technical and engineering projects. Your job is to provide oversight and assist in the quality control of projects. As a project engineer, you support a project manager with limited technical or engineering expertise by leading project teams through the technical phase of a project. The role has promising career prospects and salaries.

what qualifications does a project engineer need?

As a project engineer, you work in numerous fields that require technical knowledge. For instance, if you work in the manufacturing sector or civil engineering, you require a bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering course to gain the technical expertise required for the role. You also require extensive experience working in the technical field.

what are the main skills required of a project engineer?

As a project engineer, you require project management skills to lead and coordinate teams working on a project. Your project management skills are useful in organising tasks and motivating other team members to complete their tasks as expected. Since you collaborate with many people, having people skills can help you excel in the role. Technical expertise is also valuable in helping team members solve problems that arise.

what is the expected salary of a project engineer?

As a project engineer, you earn an average salary of £41,500 per year. The compensation package depends on your skills and expertise. When you take up minimal responsibilities and or have entry-level experience, you are likely to earn as low as £35,000 yearly. As you improve your skills and experience, your earnings increase gradually, and you can take home over £55,000 annually.

do project engineers work long hours?

As a project engineer, you supervise all aspects of an engineering project. That means you work the same hours as other employees. If the technical team works 12-hour shifts, you are likely to work additional hours to plan the tasks for the next day. Sometimes, you also work weekends to meet project deadlines.

how do I apply for a project engineer vacancy?

Applying for a project engineer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area . Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!

Working as a project engineer

what is a project engineer?

As a project engineer, you have the expertise to manage a technical project. You guide engineers and manage engineering projects from commencement to end. Your duties are similar to those of a project manager, like delegating tasks and monitoring project budgets. You also oversee the project's progress and mitigate risks associated with the work.

The role of a project engineer is to allocate tasks to technicians and engineers. Since you have technical knowledge, you can identify experts for a particular task. Most employers hire a project engineer to manage engineering projects or tasks that require technical expertise that a project manager doesn’t have. As a project engineer, you speak to the company's stakeholders and senior managers. You also provide updates and discuss other requirements of the project.

Since most construction and engineering projects are site-specific, you spend significant time monitoring on-site engineering works. You direct members and make time-sensitive decisions on the projects. You require technical expertise to establish the correct project plans for the teams. You also decide on the work procedures and the models of the projects. When working on-site, you consider the risks of a project and identify the necessary safety standards required.

Project engineers are useful in various industries. However, most project engineers work in manufacturing, construction and aerospace vehicle development. Some project engineers also work in technology companies.

Would working as a project engineer suit your decision-making skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a project engineer role.

see project engineer jobs

1

average project engineer salary

According to ONS, a project engineer takes home an average salary of £41,500 per year. Project engineers with less than five years of experience or applying for an entry-level position receive a salary of £35,000 annually. An experienced project engineer can earn up to £55,000 yearly.

what determines the salary of a project engineer?

As a project engineer, your compensation package depends on your experience and qualifications. When you have minimal experience and qualifications, you are likely to earn less than a project engineer with extensive experience. With experience, you acquire additional skills and expertise which prepare you for complex roles in the company.

The compensation package of a project engineer also depends on the industry sector you work in. For instance, when you work on complex engineering projects in the construction and manufacturing industries, you earn a higher salary than project engineers working on smaller projects.

The company's size also influences the project size and your earning potential. When you work for a large company, you work on huge projects, and the unlimited resources increase your salary potential. Smaller companies handle less complex projects and have limited resources.

smiling female, construction site in the background

2

types of project engineers

Some of the types of project engineers include:

mechanical project engineers: as a mechanical project engineer, you work in the automotive or aviation industry. Your job is to provide general management skills. You develop blueprints and perform market research for the projects. You also design and create the assembling prototypes.
electrical project engineers: as an electrical project engineer, you guide a team in designing and developing electrical systems involved in a project. You supervise the installation of electrical systems to ensure it meets safety standards.
software project engineers: as a software project engineer, you work in the IT industry as the technical lead in a software development project. You also have experience in designing various types of software components.

3