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What is an engineering technician lead and how to become one
The old cliche goes that there are two kinds of people in the world: the dreamers and the doers. Engineering lead technicians are doers that help dreamers turn their ideas into prototypes and then finished products. The engineering lead technicians lead a team that manages every step of the equipment development process, from design to maintenance, once the production is complete.
Engineering lead technicians can work on a variety of projects depending on their specialized knowledge, from big projects in civil engineering to small, complex ones in computer engineering. They need extensive experience in engineering before working their way up to a leadership position, often including a bachelor's or master's degree.
But working as an engineering lead technician is not just about wires, pliers, and blueprints. An engineering lead technician also needs to be a good communicator who enjoys working with people as they manage their team and act as a liaison with other teams, such as the design or manufacturing departments.
What general advice would you give to an engineering technician lead?
John Irwin EdD
Chair, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Michigan Technological University
Avg. Salary $107,373
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%
Asian 8.05%
Black or African American 6.26%
Hispanic or Latino 10.43%
Unknown 4.32%
White 70.79%
Genderfemale 11.12%
male 88.88%
Age - 52American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 52Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Engineering technician lead career paths
Key steps to become an engineering technician lead
Explore engineering technician lead education requirements
Start to develop specific engineering technician lead skills
Skills Percentages Java 15.85% Python 9.02% C++ 5.05% Project Management 4.42% Azure 3.93% Complete relevant engineering technician lead training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New engineering technician leads 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 an engineering technician lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real engineering technician lead resumes.Research engineering technician lead duties and responsibilities
- Lead and install CCTV systems and equipment specializing in Vicon.
- Manage cost savings initiatives with lean implementation and reduce risks via PFMEA and SPC.
- Implement and maintain site telephony infrastructure; organize and manage high-level enterprise-scale voice deployment projects.
- Design and develop automation framework using python and perforce API to automate daily integration work.
Get engineering technician lead experience
Generally, it takes 6-12 months to become an engineering technician lead. The most common roles before becoming an engineering technician lead include engineering technician, software engineer team lead and senior software engineer.Prepare your engineering technician lead resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your engineering technician lead resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an engineering technician lead resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable engineering technician lead resume templates
Build a professional engineering technician lead resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your engineering technician lead resume.
Apply for engineering technician lead jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an engineering technician lead job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first engineering technician lead job
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Average engineering technician lead salary
The average engineering technician lead salary in the United States is $107,373 per year or $52 per hour. Engineering technician lead salaries range between $80,000 and $142,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
