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What is a director of engineering, quality & program management and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Yi Yang PhD

The duties of a director of engineering, quality & program management are often just as long and complicated as the job title itself. The director of engineering, quality & program management is in charge of most aspects of product development, from the technical duties of engineering to more administrative tasks that fall under the umbrella of program management.

The day-to-day tasks of a director of engineering, quality & program management differ depending on the needs of the company. They may spend their day meeting with members of the engineering and quality analysis teams to get updates on the development process. Other days, they develop procedures to make workflow more efficient or audit a project themselves to check for quality.

It takes many years of hard work to become a director of engineering, quality & program management. Many directors have master's degrees in business, engineering or a related field. They also have years of experience in engineering and management before earning the shiny title of director.

What general advice would you give to a director of engineering, quality & program management?

Yi Yang PhDYi Yang PhD LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Abington

For new graduates beginning their careers in engineering, I would advise them to consider the broader impact of their work and look for opportunities to expand their management potential. While engineering is a highly technical field, it's important to recognize the value of leadership roles in preserving a culture of innovation. By taking on these positions, you can help ensure that companies prioritize long-term innovation over short-term gains (cutting R&D to boost the balance sheet), thus preserving the engineering culture that drives meaningful progress.
ScoreDirector Of Engineering, Quality & Program ManagementUS Average
Salary
8.7

Avg. Salary $143,657

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.0

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 12.95%

Black or African American 3.41%

Hispanic or Latino 9.36%

Unknown 4.60%

White 69.57%

Gender

female 17.07%

male 82.93%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
7.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.7

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Director of engineering, quality & program management career paths

Key steps to become a director of engineering, quality & program management

  1. Explore director of engineering, quality & program management education requirements

    Most common director of engineering, quality & program management degrees

    Bachelor's

    61.4 %

    Master's

    27.9 %

    Associate

    7.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific director of engineering, quality & program management skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management24.89%
    Engineering Management15.86%
    Architecture10.60%
    Program Management9.70%
    AWS7.01%
  3. Complete relevant director of engineering, quality & program management training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of engineering, quality & program management learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of engineering, quality & program management based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of engineering, quality & program management resumes.
  4. Research director of engineering, quality & program management duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and coordinate all hardware/software engineering, installation, and service of HVAC temperature control system projects.
    • Create and implement the database that track installed equipment and company documentation for ISO certification.
    • Intensify awareness of cloud security by implementing periodic security audits and providing security guideline for developing and operating the cloud service.
    • Own the HW specs for the routing engines.
  5. Get director of engineering, quality & program management experience

  6. Apply for director of engineering, quality & program management jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of engineering, quality & program management job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director of engineering, quality & program management job

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Average director of engineering, quality & program management salary

The average director of engineering, quality & program management salary in the United States is $143,657 per year or $69 per hour. Director of engineering, quality & program management salaries range between $104,000 and $197,000 per year.

Average director of engineering, quality & program management salary
$143,657 Yearly
$69.07 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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