1.5.6 The Project Engineer

As the Superintendent manages the physical construction of the project in the field, the Project Engineer in a sense builds it first—on paper. The Project Engineer is responsible for coordinating the complete construction and administrative requirements of the various bid packages; organizing the complexities into a management system that will establish, monitor, and follow up on each vendor’s compliance; and orchestrating the information flows needed for each component and system to be incorporated into the project—all within the time frames needed by the progress schedule. Strict attention to detail, a profound appreciation for time constraints, and a sober understanding of the dividends reaped through proper documentation all add up to an effective Project Engineer. Duties include:

• Working with the Project Manager, Superintendent, and the estimating/purchasing effort in the final development of the various bid packages and the baseline construction schedule
• Working with the Project Manager and Superintendent to develop site utilization programs
• Establishing, maintaining, conducting, and policing detailed procedures for the submittal, review, coordination, approval, and distribution of shop drawings, samples, etc.
• Establishing and maintaining all project engineering files relating to subcontract and bid package records, plans, specifications, changes, clarifications, and as-built documents
• Reviewing all vendor schedules of values and preparing the general schedule of values as coordinated with the Project Manager
• Managing the periodic requisition procedure for review, submittal, and payment
• Expediting vendor estimates and proposals and preparing appropriate company estimates and proposals for changes to be submitted to the Owner
• Determining appropriateness and preparing subcontractor change orders to be processed through the Project Manager
• Evaluating subcontractor payment requisitions relative to actual work performed
• Working with the Project Manager, Superintendent, and Project Accountant to prepare the general requisition and follow it through to payment