How to hire architectural and engineering managers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Assess project feasibility by analyzing technology, resource needs, or market demand. • Confer with management, production, or marketing staff to discuss project specifications or procedures. • Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications. • Direct, review, or approve project design changes. • Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects. • Prepare budgets, bids, or contracts. • Present and explain proposals, reports, or findings to clients. • Review, recommend, or approve contracts or cost estimates. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, writing, active learning and critical thinking skills • Working knowledge of design, engineering and technology, English Language and chemistry • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $82.34 an hour ($171,270 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for architectural and engineering managers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to assess project feasibility by analyzing technology, resource needs, or market demand. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to confer with management, production, or marketing staff to discuss project specifications or procedures. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to direct, review, or approve project design changes. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What architectural and engineering managers do
- Assess project feasibility by analyzing technology, resource needs, or market demand.
- Confer with management, production, or marketing staff to discuss project specifications or procedures.
- Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications.
- Direct, review, or approve project design changes.
- Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects.
- Prepare budgets, bids, or contracts.
- Present and explain proposals, reports, or findings to clients.
- Review, recommend, or approve contracts or cost estimates.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for architectural and engineering managers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 8 to 10 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +5.5% over ten years, faster than average · about 14,900 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay architectural and engineering managers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $215,120 |
| California | $210,280 |
| Massachusetts | $201,430 |
| Washington | $189,680 |
| District of Columbia | $185,220 |
| Wisconsin | $142,060 |
| Nebraska | $141,020 |
| Arkansas | $140,600 |
See architectural and engineering managers pay in every state
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Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.