What does an applications engineering manager do?
Applications engineering managers are engineering professionals who are responsible for managing the daily activities of application engineers that review the technical needs of their customers. These managers are required to contribute to the design and development of applications while ensuring on-time completion of these projects and within budget. They must develop technical support procedures manual while implementing the first formal alpha and beta test program in the organization. Applications engineering managers must provide input about the enhancements and development of products.
Applications engineering manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real applications engineering manager resumes:
- Manage a staff of applications engineers supporting and implementing X.25 and QLLC data switches.
- Manage and design formalized production processes and QA assurances for production department.
- Manage scheduling and implementation of technology for applications migrations to cloud, ensuring consistency adherence to university practices.
- Install UNIX infrastructure and networking.
- Programme multi axis aerospace parts.
- Train the FAE organization on release products.
- Provide product recommendations to field sales for industrial fluid power and aerospace customers.
- Design high-speed video evaluation boards with ADC/DAC/SoC, from schematics capture to PCB layout.
- Develop reference designs such as external scan-converter board and VGA card using the scan-converter IC.
- Empower market a range of semi custom RF power amplifiers mainly in the DOD market.
- Support hardware and programming services for PLC system for high-pressure press to produce PCB laminate through-hole technique.
- Provide solutions to IC and PC design engineers on problems occurring during the use of the various software packages.
- Direct development of a new vacuum pump for semiconductor fab and design and install system for gas phase silicon doping.
- Participate as a key member of an ISO steering committee which successfully obtain ISO 9001 certification in a 9-month period.
- Document and maintain (customers/suppliers) accounts within a Salesforce (CRM) database and Syspro (ERP) system.
Applications engineering manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Applications Engineering Managers are proficient in Project Management, Infrastructure, and Java. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Applications Engineering Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Management, 11%
Implemented the first project management system for a continuous casting valued at over $1 MM.
- Infrastructure, 9%
Managed team of Infrastructure Architects and Application Support Engineers responsible for providing technology framework for AutoNation.
- Java, 8%
Team responsible for Java and Application Platform Layer Operations, Engineering, Architecture, standards, automation, and integration.
- Technical Support, 8%
Managed a team of engineers responsible for providing customer technical support for integrated circuits.
- UL, 6%
Maintained UL (Underwriters Laboratory) and CSA specifications while dealing directly with respective representatives.
- Visualization, 4%
Created real-time monitoring, alerting and visualization for data-driven decisions.
Common skills that an applications engineering manager uses to do their job include "project management," "infrastructure," and "java." You can find details on the most important applications engineering manager responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an applications engineering manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "architectural and engineering managers evaluate information to solve problems." Applications engineering managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "analyzed test results and provided design improvement suggestions to the design engineering team. "
Communication skills. Many applications engineering manager duties rely on communication skills. "architectural and engineering managers must effectively convey information and expectations related to projects.," so an applications engineering manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways applications engineering manager responsibilities rely on communication skills: "managed projects of major system upgrades (peoplesoft, concur, deltek) including infrastructure and end-user communications. "
Math skills. For certain applications engineering manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of an applications engineering manager rely on this skill, as "architectural and engineering managers use calculus and other mathematics to develop new products and processes." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what applications engineering managers do: "used 3d cad, magnetic fea, mathematical modeling, flux and gaussmeters to optimize performance and determine best application solutions. "
Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for an applications engineering manager to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what applications engineering managers relies on this skill, since "architectural and engineering managers keep track of many workers, schedules, and budgets simultaneously." How this skill relates to applications engineering manager duties can be seen in an example from an applications engineering manager resume snippet: "led a cross-organizational effort that increased the mechanical firmware development process efficiency by 30 percent. "
The three companies that hire the most applications engineering managers are:
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Compare different applications engineering managers
Applications engineering manager vs. Research and development director
A research and development director spearheads and oversees the research and development initiatives and projects in a company. It is their duty to set goals and guidelines, establish timelines and budgets, direct and manage different departments, liaise with internal and external parties, gather and analyze data to implement solutions against problem areas, and utilize expertise in developing strategies to optimize company operations. Moreover, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while promoting the company's policies and regulations, creating new ones as needed.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an applications engineering manager are more likely to require skills like "infrastructure," "visualization," "sql," and "technical expertise." On the other hand, a job as a research and development director requires skills like "fda," "oversight," "strategic direction," and "due diligence." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Research and development directors tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $167,250. In contrast, applications engineering managers make the biggest average salary, $141,544, in the technology industry.research and development directors tend to reach similar levels of education than applications engineering managers. In fact, research and development directors are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 10.8% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Applications engineering manager vs. Research and development manager
A research and development manager is responsible for supervising project development procedures to support business operations and identify business opportunities that would pave the way for more revenue resources and profits. Research and development managers monitor the production plans from the conceptualization to the final outputs, inspecting inconsistencies and flaws in every phase and revising strategies as needed to achieve the required specifications and requirements. They delegate tasks to the staff, oversee progress, and conduct research and development programs to maximize productivity and team efforts.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that applications engineering manager responsibilities requires skills like "infrastructure," "technical expertise," "debugging," and "semiconductor." But a research and development manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "patients," "c #," and "client facing."
Research and development managers earn a lower average salary than applications engineering managers. But research and development managers earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $143,083. Additionally, applications engineering managers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $141,544 annually.In general, research and development managers achieve similar levels of education than applications engineering managers. They're 0.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 10.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Applications engineering manager vs. Design manager
A design manager is responsible for creating graphic and digital designs, following clients' specifications, and managing project deliverables efficiently. Design managers work closely with the marketing and public relations department, developing strategies to promote the brand to the target audience. They coordinate with the creative team and present the design ideas to the management, ask for final approval, perform revisions as needed, and follow the budget goals. A design manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the design team's concerns and needs.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from applications engineering manager resumes include skills like "infrastructure," "java," "technical support," and "ul," whereas a design manager is more likely to list skills in "sketch," "user experience," "powerpoint," and "design process. "
Design managers make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $121,279. On the other hand, applications engineering managers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $141,544.Most design managers achieve a lower degree level compared to applications engineering managers. For example, they're 8.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Applications engineering manager vs. Vice president of engineering
A Vice President Of Engineering manages all aspects of the company's engineering product development activities. They are responsible for strategic planning, production designing, quality assurance, and problem resolution.
Types of applications engineering manager
Updated January 8, 2025
