NSXNational Skills ExchangeSign in
Back to Framework

Architectural and Engineering Managers

SOC 11-9041.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers architectural and engineering management practice from supervised project support through enterprise-level strategic leadership, anchored in project coordination, client engagement, contract management, feasibility analysis, and team development within large-scale professional and technical services environments.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Technical project documentation — review and organize under senior manager direction to support coordination of architectural or engineering activities.
  2. Project specifications — assist in drafting initial requirements by compiling client input and background research under direct supervision.
  3. Budget worksheets and bid templates — populate with provided data under guidance to support preparation of project cost estimates.
  4. Project feasibility inputs — gather technology, resource, and market data to assist senior staff in conducting preliminary feasibility analyses.
  5. Design change requests — log, track, and route for approval through established project management software workflows under oversight.
  6. Client-facing reports and proposals — contribute supporting sections and exhibits under the direction of a lead architectural or engineering manager.
  7. Cross-functional project meetings — attend and document discussions between management, production, and marketing staff regarding project specifications.
  8. Contract terms and cost estimate summaries — review for completeness and flag discrepancies for senior review in a structured office environment.
  9. ERP and project management software — enter project data and generate standard status reports under the supervision of experienced project managers.
  10. Reading comprehension of technical standards and codes — apply to verify that project documents conform to applicable regulatory requirements with oversight.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Technical activity integration — coordinate across engineering and architecture disciplines on mid-scale projects with reduced supervisor involvement.
  2. Project design changes — evaluate proposed modifications against scope, schedule, and budget constraints, recommending approval or revision to senior leadership.
  3. Client consultations — conduct structured meetings to clarify project requirements and translate client needs into actionable specification documents.
  4. Project budgets and contract bids — prepare comprehensive cost estimates and bid packages by applying established methodologies and historical benchmarks.
  5. Proposals and findings — present project reports to clients and internal stakeholders, adapting technical content for varied audience comprehension levels.
  6. Feasibility assessments — analyze technology options, resource availability, and market demand to produce written feasibility reports for management review.
  7. Interdepartmental coordination — facilitate recurring meetings with production, marketing, and management teams to align project procedures and specifications.
  8. Contract and cost estimate review — assess vendor and subcontractor submissions for technical accuracy and cost reasonableness, forwarding recommendations for approval.
  9. Personnel scheduling and task allocation — coordinate team workloads across concurrent projects using project management and ERP software platforms.
  10. Non-routine technical problems — apply deductive and inductive reasoning to diagnose engineering or design issues and develop corrective action plans independently.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Overall project integration — autonomously manage the full coordination of technical activities across architecture and engineering functions on complex, multi-phase projects.
  2. Design change authority — direct and approve project design changes, balancing client intent, regulatory compliance, and engineering feasibility across the project lifecycle.
  3. Client negotiation — lead specification negotiations with clients, resolving conflicting requirements and reaching binding technical agreements without escalation.
  4. Comprehensive budget and contract development — prepare and finalize budgets, bids, and contracts for large-scale projects, ensuring alignment with organizational risk tolerance.
  5. Executive-level presentations — present and defend complex proposals, findings, and technical reports to senior client executives and regulatory bodies with persuasive clarity.
  6. Strategic feasibility evaluation — conduct independent multi-variable analyses of technology readiness, resource constraints, and market demand to inform go/no-go project decisions.
  7. Cross-functional alignment — resolve specification disputes and procedural conflicts among management, production, and marketing stakeholders, driving consensus on project direction.
  8. Contract approval authority — review, recommend, and approve high-value contracts and cost estimates, applying professional judgment to protect organizational and client interests.
  9. Team capability development — mentor developing engineers and architects, designing learning strategies and on-the-job coaching plans tailored to individual growth needs.
  10. Technology integration — evaluate and implement advanced tools including expert systems, ERP modules, and development environments to optimize project delivery processes.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational project strategy — set the strategic direction for enterprise-wide architectural and engineering project portfolios, aligning technical priorities with long-term business objectives.
  2. Design governance — establish and enforce organization-level design change review frameworks, ensuring quality, innovation, and regulatory compliance across all project lines.
  3. Client relationship leadership — cultivate and steward strategic client partnerships at the executive level, negotiating master service agreements and long-term program specifications.
  4. Enterprise financial stewardship — oversee the preparation and approval of multi-million-dollar budgets, bids, and contracts, managing organizational exposure and profitability targets.
  5. Board and executive communication — present transformative technical strategies, risk assessments, and program outcomes to boards of directors, investors, and government authorities.
  6. Market-driven feasibility leadership — lead enterprise feasibility strategy by integrating emerging technology trends, workforce capacity, and market intelligence into capital investment decisions.
  7. Cross-organizational integration — architect collaboration frameworks that align engineering, production, marketing, and executive leadership on complex, multi-stakeholder program requirements.
  8. Contract and procurement policy — define organizational standards for contract review and cost-estimate approval, establishing governance policies that govern project managers enterprise-wide.
  9. Talent and succession development — lead workforce planning and leadership development for the full architectural and engineering management function, building organizational bench strength.
  10. Innovation culture leadership — champion the adoption of advanced technologies, knowledge management systems, and learning strategies that position the organization at the forefront of the profession.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library
Show O*NET source anchors69 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Architect Manager · Architectural Project Manager · Civil Engineering Manager · Civil Project Manager (Civil PM) · Data Engineering Director · Data Engineering Manager · Electrical Engineering Director · Electrical Engineering Manager · Electrical Project Manager (Electrical PM) · Electronics Engineering Manager · Engineering Design Manager · Engineering Director
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Reading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingWritingSpeakingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingMathematicsCritical ThinkingActive LearningTime ManagementCoordinationMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessLearning StrategiesManagement of Personnel ResourcesInstructingService OrientationPersuasionNegotiationSystems AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisSystems Evaluation
Knowledge domains
DesignEngineering and TechnologyMathematicsAdministration and ManagementEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceMechanicalComputers and ElectronicsProduction and ProcessingPhysicsAdministrativePublic Safety and SecurityBuilding and Construction
Abilities
Written ComprehensionOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech ClarityProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningMathematical ReasoningWritten ExpressionFluency of Ideas
Work styles
Leadership OrientationDependabilityInnovationAttention to DetailIntellectual CuriosityIntegrity
Technology
Document management softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareData base management system softwareData base user interface and query softwareExpert system softwareObject or component oriented development softwareDevelopment environment softwareOperating system softwareProject management softwareContent workflow software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects.
  2. Direct, review, or approve project design changes.
  3. Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications.
  4. Prepare budgets, bids, or contracts.
  5. Present and explain proposals, reports, or findings to clients.
  6. Confer with management, production, or marketing staff to discuss project specifications or procedures.
  7. Assess project feasibility by analyzing technology, resource needs, or market demand.
  8. Review, recommend, or approve contracts or cost estimates.
CIP education codes
04.020104.020204.030104.040104.040204.050104.060104.090214.010114.020114.020214.029914.030114.040114.050114.060114.070114.070214.079914.080114.080214.080314.080414.080514.089914.090114.090214.090314.099914.100114.100314.100414.109914.110114.120114.130114.140114.180114.190114.200114.210114.220114.230114.240114.250114.270114.280114.320114.330114.340114.350114.360114.380114.390114.400114.410114.420114.430114.440114.450114.470114.480114.480214.489914.999915.150115.150215.150340.100152.0216

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.