Forgen
Internal Career Resource
Project Engineering Track · Career Growth Guide

A Step-by-Step
Growth Guide

The Project Engineering job family at Forgen plays a critical role in delivering complex geotechnical and specialty civil construction projects safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards. Project Engineers serve as the technical and operational link between engineering design, field execution, and project controls — ensuring that work is planned, coordinated, and executed in alignment with contract requirements, budget, schedule, and safety goals.

L2 Project Engineer II
L1 Project Engineer I
Field-First Engineering
Project Engineers are primarily field-focused professionals who apply engineering principles, construction knowledge, and practical problem-solving to support daily operations on active project sites
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Technical & Controls Accountability
All levels are responsible for accurate documentation, production tracking, QC compliance, and cost reporting — these are contractual, financial, and safety requirements, not optional tasks
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Cross-Track Gateway Role
The Project Engineer path is the primary entry point into Forgen's career tracks — PE I and PE II serve as the foundation from which professionals branch into Project Management, Project Controls, Quality, Safety, and Estimating
Level 01 · Entry-Level Project Engineer

Project Engineer I

Primary Focus: Learning fundamentals of project execution and field operations

Supports office and field operations through documentation, submittals, surveying, QC support, and cost tracking while developing technical and construction knowledge.

Experience Required
0-3 years
Field Presence
Regular field presence with guidance from PMs and Superintendents
Field Learning Role
Scope of Work
Individual tasks within a project
Autonomy
Works under close supervision
Key Responsibilities
  • Supports daily field operations and assists superintendents and crews under direction
  • Reviews construction plans and specifications with guidance from senior engineers
  • Performs site surveying and layout using conventional and GPS methods
  • Tracks quantities, production data, and assists with daily cost reporting
  • Prepares and tracks submittals; maintains project record documents
  • Supports quality control documentation and verifies work compliance
  • Assists with subcontractor coordination and material/equipment procurement
  • Assists with estimates, material take-offs, and proposal support
  • Supports implementation of safety and environmental plans in the field
  • Learns from experienced engineers and participates in knowledge sharing
Core Capability Expectations
Field Execution & Operations

Supports daily field operations; assists superintendents and crews with execution tasks under direction.

Technical Review & Engineering

Reviews plans, specifications, and field conditions with guidance; applies foundational engineering principles such as soil mechanics, hydraulics, structural theory, and surveying.

Quality Control & Compliance

Supports quality control documentation and verifies work compliance under supervision in accordance with contract and company requirements.

Surveying & Layout

Assists with conventional and GPS surveying; performs site layout tasks under direction.

Cost, Schedule & Project Controls

Tracks quantities, production data, and supports daily cost reporting.

Documentation & Reporting

Prepares daily reports and maintains project records accurately.

Subcontractor & Vendor Coordination

Assists with subcontractor coordination and material/equipment procurement.

Estimating & Preconstruction Support

Assists with estimates, material take-offs, and proposal support.

Safety & Environmental Compliance

Supports implementation of safety and environmental plans in the field.

Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing

Learns from experienced engineers and participates in knowledge sharing activities.

Decision Authority & Escalation
⚖️Decision Authority
  • Requires guidance for complex decisions; follows established procedures
  • Supervisory Responsibility: None
🔺Escalation Triggers
When to Escalate
  • Escalates complex field decisions to supervising PE II, PM, or Superintendent
  • Flags quality control issues or specification deviations immediately
  • Reports safety hazards or near-misses to field leadership without delay
  • Escalates scope changes or work not matching contract documents
  • Raises procurement concerns or material non-conformances to PM
Impact & Outcomes
Field Presence
High
Regular site presence; embedded in daily construction activities with guidance
Scope
Task-Level
Individual tasks within a defined project scope
Impact
Project
Contributes to project-level technical compliance and daily execution quality
Behavior & Leadership Expectations
Collaboration & Feedback

Collaborates within the team, accepts feedback, and takes responsibility for mistakes.

Communication

Builds foundational communication skills in written and verbal settings.

Problem Solving & Risk

Identifies basic technical or field issues and escalates risks with guidance.

Core Values

Demonstrates understanding of Forgen's core values through daily actions.

Preferred Skills & Tools
AutoCAD Civil 3D (basic)
GPS surveying exposure
Project tools, software, and reporting systems
Training & Development Accountability
AutoCAD Civil 3D (basic)
GPS surveying exposure
Project tools, software, and reporting systems (EHS Insight, P6 basics)
Quality control documentation standards
Safety and environmental plan implementation
Level 02 · Experienced Field Engineer

Project Engineer II

Primary Focus: Independent field execution, coordination, and technical problem solving

Acts as a primary onsite engineering resource; manages field coordination, production tracking, QC, and technical issue resolution with increasing autonomy. May manage multiple work fronts simultaneously.

Experience Required
3-5+ years; 3+ years relevant experience
Field Presence
Heavy field presence; embedded in daily construction activities
Field Leader
Scope of Work
Major portions of a project or multiple work fronts
Autonomy
Operates with moderate autonomy
Key Responsibilities
  • Acts as primary onsite engineering resource across assigned scopes
  • Independently interprets contract documents, geotechnical reports, and field conditions
  • Manages field surveying activities and verifies layout accuracy
  • Oversees quality control testing, documentation, and technical compliance
  • Manages production tracking, forecasting, and variance analysis
  • Manages field documentation and ensures accurate technical reporting
  • Coordinates subcontractors and vendors; monitors performance and resolves issues
  • Develops scopes, take-offs, and supports pricing and change management
  • Actively enforces safety and environmental requirements; identifies and corrects hazards
  • Mentors and trains PE I staff and interns
Core Capability Expectations
Field Execution & Operations

Coordinates and supports field operations independently; resolves routine field issues and supports work sequencing across multiple work fronts.

Technical Review & Engineering

Independently interprets contract documents and geotechnical data; identifies constructability issues and proposes engineering solutions to field challenges.

Quality Control & Compliance

Oversees quality control testing and documentation; ensures technical requirements are implemented correctly across assigned scopes.

Surveying & Layout

Manages and executes field surveying and layout; verifies layout accuracy and coordinates survey resources.

Cost, Schedule & Project Controls

Manages production tracking, forecasting, and variance analysis; tracks equipment utilization and cost performance for assigned scopes.

Documentation & Reporting

Manages field documentation and ensures accurate technical reporting across assigned scopes.

Subcontractor & Vendor Coordination

Coordinates subcontractors and vendors; monitors performance and resolves issues.

Estimating & Preconstruction Support

Develops scopes, take-offs, and supports pricing, change management, and preconstruction planning.

Safety & Environmental Compliance

Actively enforces safety and environmental requirements; identifies hazards and implements corrective actions.

Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing

Supports training and mentoring of PE I staff and interns; shares technical knowledge across the team.

Decision Authority & Escalation
⚖️Decision Authority
  • Makes independent field decisions within scope; escalates complex issues
  • Supervisory Responsibility: Informal guidance to PE I or interns
🔺Escalation Triggers
When to Escalate
  • Escalates constructability issues or technical conflicts to PM before work proceeds
  • Flags cost or schedule variances affecting assigned scopes immediately
  • Escalates subcontractor performance issues or contract non-compliance to PM
  • Reports quality failures or test results that do not meet specification
  • Raises safety or environmental compliance concerns requiring PM or EHS involvement
  • Escalates scope changes or client direction that conflicts with contract documents
Impact & Outcomes
Field Presence
Heavy
Embedded in daily construction activities; primary onsite engineering resource
Scope
Multi-Front
Major project components and multiple concurrent work fronts
Impact
Cross-Functional
Contributes to project controls, quality, safety, and technical execution
Behavior & Leadership Expectations
Collaboration & Feedback

Builds strong working relationships and provides constructive feedback to peers and junior engineers.

Communication

Communicates technical issues clearly to field and office teams; prepares structured reports and updates.

Problem Solving & Risk

Independently analyzes problems, assesses moderate risks, and recommends mitigation strategies.

Core Values

Consistently applies Forgen's core values in decision-making and teamwork.

Preferred Skills & Tools
Advanced surveying & field coordination
Primavera P6, MS Project
Applies tools independently to field execution
Training & Development Accountability
Advanced surveying & field coordination
Primavera P6, MS Project
Production forecasting and variance analysis
Change management and scope documentation
Mentoring and knowledge transfer techniques
Download Full Career Path Guide
Both levels in one PDF - capabilities, behaviors, training and fillable notes.
Download Current Level PDF
The level currently on screen - capabilities, behaviors and fillable notes for 1-on-1s.
Download Side-by-Side Comparison
Landscape table - both levels compared across capabilities, behaviors and escalation.