Now that you know what a project engineer does, you may be curious about the process of how to become a project engineer. If you’re still in high school or even in middle school, you should talk to your school guidance counselor about your career aspirations. You may be able to adjust your current course load to prepare for your post-secondary education.
It’s ideal for aspiring project engineers to take advanced math and science classes. Strive to get on a track that will allow you to take calculus or at least pre-calculus in your senior year. Chemistry, physics and other science classes are also essential.
Since project engineers must manage people as well as technical projects, you shouldn’t neglect the humanities and social sciences. Courses in communications, English, social studies and psychology will serve you well. A foreign language can also be helpful, as engineers may sometimes travel overseas to complete engineering projects abroad.
The first major step in the process of how to become a project engineer is to earn an undergraduate engineering degree. There is no one universal project engineer degree you should earn; you could choose an engineering degree that specializes in electrical or mechanical engineering, for instance.
After you earn a bachelor’s degree, you may decide to enter grad school immediately and earn your master’s degree in engineering. However, this isn’t mandatory. You can land an entry-level job with just a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
Do note that project engineering is a mid- to senior-level position. You’ll need to acquire at least a few years of full-time work experience as an engineer working on various projects before you can pursue a project management role.