What does an engineering manager do?
An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed. An engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of engineering disciplines, as well as leadership and communication skills, monitoring the team's performance throughout the project.
Engineering manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real engineering manager resumes:
- Lead design and manage development of voice-processing system's SNMP device agent and Java management application.
- Manage multiple teams of UNIX engineers and software developers.
- Achieve the highest ROI of any of the company's online or offline marketing channels.
- Manage geotechnical, environmental, and survey consultants in connection with due diligence for new stores.
- Manage tool implementation on change, problem, configuration management, product structure, and visualization processes.
- Lead cross-functional team to track and address end-of-life component issues, which greatly reduce line shortages or stoppages.Sr.
- Apply SQL to maintain drive test, QA test, and KPI data collection and analysis of wireless system performance.
- Provide hands-on support in multiple functions including business architecture, business analysis, technical project management and development.
- Organize a team of 4 Sr.
- Prepare and utilize PFMEA, DFMEA, ECs.
- Introduce CNC programmers' forum.
- Implement PC base maintenance system.
- Finalize customer scope of supply including BOM.
- Budget and prepare AFE within assign area.
- Design a secure cloud proposal on AWS.
Engineering manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Engineering Managers are proficient in Java, Project Management, and Continuous Improvement. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Engineering Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Java, 11%
Managed Agile teams in 5 time zones: coding and testing an enterprise Java and C++ digital media transport service.
- Project Management, 7%
Provided project management & technical leadership within cross-functional team interactions & Asian manufacturing partners to increase productivity and identify critical paths.
- Continuous Improvement, 6%
Maintained required equipment availability/utilization and developed continuous improvement plans to reduce requirements.
- Software Development, 4%
Played an instrumental role in analyzing and improving software development process by convincing upper management to implement a daily build process.
- C++, 4%
Implemented personal development plans for team members to make them proficient in C++, embedded software and agile development methodologies.
- UL, 4%
Maintained UL (Underwriters Laboratory) and CSA specifications while dealing directly with respective representatives.
Common skills that an engineering manager uses to do their job include "java," "project management," and "continuous improvement." You can find details on the most important engineering manager responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for an engineering manager to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "architectural and engineering managers evaluate information to solve problems." Additionally, an engineering manager resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "created real-time monitoring, alerting and visualization for data-driven decisions. "
Communication skills. Many engineering manager duties rely on communication skills. "architectural and engineering managers must effectively convey information and expectations related to projects.," so an engineering manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways engineering manager responsibilities rely on communication skills: "helped with the implementation of iso 9000 certification for precast concrete telecommunication buildings. "
Math skills. For certain engineering manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of an 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 engineering managers do: "performed engineering management, systems analysis, math modeling, software engineering, simulation, and guidance and control analysis. "
Organizational skills. Another common skill required for engineering manager responsibilities is "organizational skills." This skill comes up in the duties of engineering managers all the time, as "architectural and engineering managers keep track of many workers, schedules, and budgets simultaneously." An excerpt from a real engineering manager resume shows how this skill is central to what an engineering manager does: "determine organizational qa priorities and drive issue resolution with development and product teams. "
The three companies that hire the most engineering managers are:
- Capital One667 engineering managers jobs
- KPMG LLP630 engineering managers jobs
- Oracle554 engineering managers jobs
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Compare different engineering managers
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 engineering manager are more likely to require skills like "continuous improvement," "customer service," "azure," and "seo." On the other hand, a job as a research and development director requires skills like "oversight," "strategic direction," "due diligence," and "intellectual property." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Research and development directors earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $167,250. On the other hand, engineering managers are paid more in the automotive industry with an average salary of $148,218.The education levels that research and development directors earn slightly differ from engineering managers. In particular, research and development directors are 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an engineering manager. Additionally, they're 10.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Engineering manager vs. Senior project engineer
A senior project engineer is responsible for monitoring the project team's overall process and operations from conceptualization until completion, ensuring the adherence to the clients' specifications, within the budget's goals, and the required deadline. Senior project engineers regularly communicate with the client regarding updates or necessary adjustments. They develop strategic procedures to finish the project efficiently by running diagnostic tests and troubleshooting discrepancies. A senior project engineer must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the team's performance and provide assistance when necessary.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, engineering manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "java," "continuous improvement," "software development," and "customer service." Meanwhile, a senior project engineer has duties that require skills in areas such as "construction management," "engineering design," "project scope," and "c #." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Senior project engineers earn a lower average salary than engineering managers. But senior project engineers earn the highest pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $104,214. Additionally, engineering managers earn the highest salaries in the automotive with average pay of $148,218 annually.In general, senior project engineers achieve similar levels of education than engineering managers. They're 3.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 10.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.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.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, engineering managers are more likely to have skills like "continuous improvement," "software development," "azure," and "seo." But a research and development manager is more likely to have skills like "patients," "c #," "rd," and "development process."
Research and development managers make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $143,083. On the other hand, engineering managers are paid the highest salary in the automotive industry, with average annual pay of $148,218.When it comes to education, research and development managers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to engineering managers. In fact, they're 2.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 5.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Engineering manager vs. Project lead engineer
Project lead engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for leading other professionals in completing a particular project. These engineers must develop a project management framework to be implemented throughout the organization based on the inputs from internal stakeholders and team members. They are required to train junior team members so that they can provide proper technical support functions. Project lead engineers must also prepare and review cost estimates for a variety of projects during bidding, construction, and post-construction phases.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between engineering managers and project lead engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an engineering manager might have more use for skills like "java," "continuous improvement," "software development," and "ul." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of project lead engineers require skills like "renewable energy," "project execution," "engineering design," and "autocad. "
The automotive industry tends to pay the highest salaries for project lead engineers, with average annual pay of $121,074. Comparatively, the highest engineering manager annual salary comes from the automotive industry.In general, project lead engineers hold similar degree levels compared to engineering managers. Project lead engineers are 0.5% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of engineering manager
Updated January 8, 2025
