What to Look for: Hiring Engineering Project Managers

The Amtec Team

June 13, 2023

Hiring the right Engineering Project Manager can be a critical step in the success of any engineering firm. Project managers in this industry not only need to have a solid technical background, but they also need to possess certain essential managerial skills. With an excellent Project Manager on your team, you can significantly increase your firm’s efficiency, productivity, and overall project success rate.

At Amtec, we understand the value of hiring the right individual for this role, and in this blog post, we’ll outline some key aspects to consider during the hiring process. In addition, we’ll introduce a selection of core competencies from our Behavioral Interview Questions Generator to help you identify candidates with the right potential.

Technical Expertise

The first thing to look for in a prospective Engineering Project Manager is their technical expertise. They should have a solid understanding of the engineering discipline specific to your projects. This knowledge will enable them to grasp the complexities of your projects, foresee potential challenges, and effectively communicate with the technical team.

Project Management Skills

In addition to technical knowledge, a good Engineering Project Manager should be equipped with strong project management skills. These include:

• Budgeting and Financial Planning: The ability to prepare and manage budgets efficiently, allocate resources properly, and understand financial implications is crucial.
• Risk Management: Identifying and addressing potential risks before they become problematic is a key aspect of successful project management.
• Quality Control: A good project manager must be able to define quality controls, ensure they are met, and implement improvements when necessary.
• Timeline Management: They should be adept at scheduling and timeline management, keeping the project on track and ensuring deadlines are met.

Leadership and Communication

Effective leadership and communication skills are vital for an Engineering Project Manager. They are in charge of leading diverse teams, resolving conflicts, and ensuring all team members are working towards a common goal. Their ability to clearly communicate expectations, provide feedback, and motivate team members is key to the success of any project.

Problem-solving and Decision-making Skills

Engineering projects are often complex and require innovative problem-solving skills. A good Project Manager should be able to make sound decisions under pressure, think on their feet, and approach problems strategically.

To identify candidates possessing these skills, consider asking behavioral questions that delve into these areas. For instance, ask them to recall a time when they had to make a crucial decision under tight deadlines, or when they devised a novel solution to a complex problem.

Behavioral Competencies

In addition to these, we’ve compiled a selection of core competencies from our Behavioral Interview Questions Generator:

• Adaptability: Can they adapt to changing circumstances and manage change effectively?
• Initiative: Are they proactive and ready to step up when needed?
• Customer orientation: Do they understand the needs of the customer and consider them in decision-making?
• Conflict management: Can they handle conflicts within the team and resolve them efficiently?

For each of these competencies, our generator offers a set of questions to help identify the desired behavior in candidates. For instance, for conflict management, you might ask, “Tell me about a time when you had to handle a conflict within your team. What was the situation, and how did you resolve it?”
Remember, hiring the right Engineering Project Manager can significantly influence the success of your projects. Take your time, consider the competencies and skills outlined above, and leverage our behavioral questions to ensure you’re making the right choice.