Career
Project Engineer
Project & Operations
The project management team's problem-solver and paperwork owner, the entry point into a Project Manager career for most people who don't come up through the trades.
What is a Project Engineer?
A Project Engineer (PE, not to be confused with a licensed Professional Engineer) supports a Project Manager by owning the day-to-day documentation and coordination that keeps a project moving: submittals, RFIs, drawing logs, and subcontractor coordination. It's usually the entry-level role on the project management track, and the fastest way for someone without trade experience to learn how a project actually runs before stepping into the PM seat themselves.
What they do
- Track and log submittals, making sure the right subcontractor submits the right product data on time
- Draft and route RFIs from the field to the architect or engineer, then log and distribute the response
- Maintain the current drawing set and distribute revisions to the field and subcontractors
- Attend site walks and take notes on progress and open issues for the project manager
- Help assemble closeout documentation (warranties, as-builts, O&M manuals) near the end of a project
- Research materials, code requirements, or subcontractor options the PM needs answers on
A typical day
- 7:30 AMUpdate the submittal log and follow up with two subcontractors on overdue items
- 9:00 AMDraft an RFI about a dimension conflict flagged by the superintendent
- 10:30 AMWalk the site with the PM and superintendent, taking notes on progress
- 1:00 PMDistribute a drawing revision to the affected subcontractors
- 3:00 PMResearch a substitute material a subcontractor proposed and summarize it for the PM's approval
Skills
Organization and documentationReading construction drawingsBasic scheduling and budgeting conceptsCommunication across owner, architect, and subcontractorsAttention to detail
Software
ProcoreBluebeamMicrosoft Project
Education
- Required:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, or a related field
- Helpful:
- OSHA 10 certification, not a nationwide legal requirement, though several states (including New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Nevada, Missouri, and Rhode Island) legally require it for workers on public construction projects
- Not necessary:
- A four-year degree is common for this entry point but not the only path; some Project Engineers move over from an estimating or field role instead
Career progression
- 1.Project Engineer
- 2.Assistant Project Manager
- 3.Project Manager
- 4.Senior Project Manager
Who hires for this role
General ContractorsConstruction Management FirmsOwners with in-house construction teams
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