A project engineer is someone who has the expertise to manage technical engineering projects. Most commonly, they work with various stakeholders, including architects, clients and contractors to establish budgeting, personnel and planning for the project.
Project Engineer Roles
As part of their job, project engineers have to perform a range of roles. While many of these relate to personnel, budget and planning, some are also safety-related.
In some cases, the project engineer is the person in charge of the project with the authority to make critical decisions on the direction in which it goes. However, they may also be an assistant to a project manager who is overseeing the entire operation.
Project engineers spend time both in the office and on-site. It’s their job to develop plans for how the project will proceed as well as physically being there to ensure their implementation.
Here some general tasks that project engineers might complete:
- Delegating responsibilities to mid-level managers and workers on the ground
- Reporting regularly on the project’s progress
- Meeting with contractors, suppliers and other stakeholder to ensure that everyone understands their roles
- Ensuring that the project doesn’t go over budget
- Making sure that teams meet critical milestones and deadlines
- Assembling the staff, materials and equipment required to carry out the project
- Developing and implementing a detailed plan of the steps required to complete the project
- Dealing with problems as they arise during the project
To become a project engineer, you need to join a professional body, such as the Association for Project Management. You also require project manager insurance for public liability, professional indemnity, and equipment.