Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Product engineering manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

8 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. John Ballato,

Dr. John Ballato

Product engineering manager example skills

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical product engineering manager skills. We ranked the top skills for product engineering managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.5% of product engineering manager resumes contained project management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a product engineering manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 product engineering manager skills for your resume and career

1. Project Management

Here's how product engineering managers use project management:

Managed a global team responsible for project management, application engineering, product engineering, process engineering, and materials engineering.
Established standardized project management methodology and processes and conducted project management training of assigned Product Managers and Project Engineers.

2. Product Management

Product management is a part of an organization's function that deals with product development, planning, pricing, forecasting, launching, and marketing the product.

Here's how product engineering managers use product management:

Performed project/product management, design, engineering and testing; managed material suppliers, injection molder and coordinated third-party testing/certifications.
Bridged communications between R&D and Product Management by writing detailed functional specifications.

3. Product Engineering

Product Engineering is the process of designing, formulating, and testing a machine or device in a manufacturing industry. The final product is influenced by numerous factors, including price, reusability, market, demand, quality, usefulness, and more. A product engineering has to keep the advantages and disadvantages of the device before working on it. This ensures that the product is received well by the public, and the company selling the product benefits from it.

Here's how product engineering managers use product engineering:

Instituted a system of key metrics to develop accurate, relevant tracking and measurement of product engineering's operational performance year-over-year.
Direct all facets of product engineering, including defining technology road maps, capability development, product development, and execution.

4. Product Line

Product line is a collection of similar or related products that may be under a single brand manufactured by the same company. It may include different varieties of a specific product of a brand which comes in different categories. In other cases, the product line may differ in some characteristics despite being from the same manufacturer.

Here's how product engineering managers use product line:

Standardized control box across product line allowing for price discounting from vendors and eliminating change-over time in the electrical department.
Handled technical support and direction of product development activities in variable area metering and flow calibrator product lines.

5. Java

Java is a widely-known programming language that was invented in 1995 and is owned by Oracle. It is a server-side language that was created to let app developers "write once, run anywhere". It is easy and simple to learn and use and is powerful, fast, and secure. This object-oriented programming language lets the code be reused that automatically lowers the development cost. Java is specially used for android apps, web and application servers, games, database connections, etc. This programming language is closely related to C++ making it easier for the users to switch between the two.

Here's how product engineering managers use java:

Defined overall strategy and led effort to define how Java based application and feature deployments would be maintained in Oracle EBS.
Managed small team of Java developers to design and develop custom applications supporting Conditional Access and Interactive TV applications.

6. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how product engineering managers use continuous improvement:

Evangelized and piloted corporate adoption of agile processes including corporate transparency, continuous improvement, and self-organizing teams.
Implemented continuous improvement for drawing maintenance and performance analysis tools.

Choose from 10+ customizable product engineering manager resume templates

Build a professional product engineering manager resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your product engineering manager resume.

7. C++

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that is used to create high-performing applications. It was invented as an extension to the C language. C++ lets the programmer have a high level of domination over memory and system resources. C++ is an object-oriented language that helps you implement real-time issues based on different data functions

Here's how product engineering managers use c++:

Displayed proficiency with C, C++, and Perl.
Assisted with C++ coding to integrate a powerful proprietary eraser engine, improving virus removal ability.

8. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how product engineering managers use product development:

Manage and execute multiple existing and new product development projects simultaneously from concept through design, development, documentation and assembly.
Perform should-cost analysis for business development teams to negotiate optimum pricing and product development teams to make strategic program decisions.

9. API

Here's how product engineering managers use api:

Developed and managed over 2,000 pages of User and API technical documentation.

10. Software Development

Software development is the mechanism by which programmers create computer programs. The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a framework for developing applications that follow technological needs and consumer requirements. It consists of many stages. The SDLC establishes an international standard that software developers can use to enhance and create their programs. It provides a well-defined framework for software developers to pursue in the production, maintenance, and design of premium quality software. The aim of the software development process is to create high-quality software on time and within budget.

Here's how product engineering managers use software development:

Justified product feature investment with executive members and successfully negotiated full software development support.
Manage software development and configuration management process.

11. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how product engineering managers use r:

Developed testing method and pass/fail criteria to validate theft-resistant packaging for Toys R Us.
Improved weld procedures and prepared plant for ASME U, UM, and R stamp audits.

12. UL

Here's how product engineering managers use ul:

Participated in product testing to gain UL qualification and certification.
Maintained UL (Underwriters Laboratory) and CSA specifications while dealing directly with respective representatives.

13. Product Design

Product design can be described as a process of imagining, creating, and iterating products that solve user's problems and talk about the specific needs of users in the market. Product design is an engineering disciple and it is the basic design and idea that goes before the mass production of the product.

Here's how product engineering managers use product design:

Supervised 2 product design groups, documentation and manufacturing engineering at remote manufacturing site.
Improved product design by using commonality of components and using readily available materials.

14. CAD

Here's how product engineering managers use cad:

Participated in development of facility CAD and data management standards.
Managed CAD, technical illustrators, writers, test lab technicians, product and packaging engineers responsible for the product portfolio.

15. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how product engineering managers use sigma:

Improved manufacturing and assembly processes by utilizing basic Six Sigma and Lean manufacturing principles.
Applied Six Sigma, Lean, SPC and advanced problem solving techniques to improve product and operational efficiency.

5 Product Engineering Manager resume examples

Build a professional product engineering manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your product engineering manager resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Product Engineering Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What soft skills should all product engineering managers possess?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

To me, the most important soft skill has always been communication. And, due to the pandemic where people have had to isolate and possibly quarantine, effective communications are even that much more critical. We're spending less face-to-face time and more screen-to-screen time, which gets boring quickly. So, paying attention, being clear and concise in your communications since you don't have the opportunities as often now to simply walk into someone's lab or office and talk through ideas and next steps. Effective communications are also especially important in materials science and engineering because our field is innately interdisciplinary. This means that you might be the only materials scientist on a team that includes marketing, sales, manufacturing, etc. Knowing your audience, including your project team, and learning how to communicate with them is critical.

What hard/technical skills are most important for product engineering managers?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

Important hard/technical skills really depend on the nature of the job/position and the organization. This really relates back to the What Skills Stand Out question. Employers want to know that employees have the requisite "toolbox" of basic skills and a willingness and aptitude to learn on the job. No person comes out of school with all the skills and experiences needed for a given job, so organizations inevitably continue to provide training on product-specific skills. Knowing how to learn, wanting to learn, and admitting what you don't know are as important, if not more so, than any hard/technical skills one gains during their education.

What skills stand out on product engineering manager resumes?

Dr. John Ballato

J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and Professor, Clemson University

The phrase "well rounded" may be getting old, but it's still true. We like to see graduates who didn't just go to class but worked in a laboratory or did a co-op/internship and had various extra-curricular activities, both personal and professional. Remember that materials science and engineering are leveraging computer science more and more, whether through atomistic or microstructural modeling or newer technologies such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). So having some familiarity with those and how they complement experimental/hands-on studies are helpful.

Another point about skills that stand out is a simple one - do your homework. There are few things more irritating than receiving a resume or email asking for a job, and the student clearly didn't care enough to look up what we do. The resume is a copy and paste and isn't personalized to the specific position, Group, or company. That stands out like a sore thumb.

What product engineering manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Yi Yang PhD

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Abington

In the next 3-5 years, I believe management skills will become increasingly important. Engineers who can bridge the gap between technical complexity and business strategy, driving innovation and growth in their organizations will be very valuable.

What type of skills will young product engineering managers need?

Randy Jacobs

Instructional Assistant Professor, Construction Management, Professional Practice Coordinator, Illinois State University

Many of the skill sets will remain the same: problem solving, communication and leadership. CM graduates are accustomed to being mobile moving from job to job and working at off-site locations. But some of those skill sets will be put to the test as the need for more "digital presence" is required of companies and construction projects.

What technical skills for a product engineering manager stand out to employers?

Patrick Atkinson

Professor, Kettering University

Broadly speaking, employers are looking for employees who can jump in, take on a project and move things forward. Since engineers are data-driven, knowing how to read and interpret findings from a variety of sources is key. This can be very challenging if the data conflicts between sources or the data is unclear. Whether the data is from a mathematical model, a physical test laboratory, or from the field, learning how to synthesize the findings and balance the strengths/weaknesses of a given data source are key. At the end of the day, every project needs a way forward and it is the engineer's job to optimize a design to meet the objectives for the product.

Do you want to know more?

List of product engineering manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a product engineering manager resume and required skills for a product engineering manager to have include:

Project Management
Product Management
Product Engineering
Product Line
Java
Continuous Improvement
C++
Product Development
API
Software Development
R
UL
Product Design
CAD
Sigma
Technical Support
SEO

Program Management
Direct Reports
Feature Development
UI
Data Analysis
Lifecycle Management
Business Development
Product Quality
Prototyping
Cost Reduction
ERP
Lean Manufacturing
Ruby
Process Improvement
Engineering Design
Product Performance
QA

Engineering Support
Customer Satisfaction
ISO
FMEA
RF
Development Projects
Jenkins
BOM
Customer Support
DFM
IP
Failure Analysis
Product Portfolio
Process Engineering
Quality Issues

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs