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Senior engineering manager vs engineering program manager

The differences between senior engineering managers and engineering program managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes More than 10 years to become both a senior engineering manager and an engineering program manager. Additionally, a senior engineering manager has an average salary of $155,753, which is higher than the $122,604 average annual salary of an engineering program manager.

The top three skills for a senior engineering manager include java, architecture and cloud. The most important skills for an engineering program manager are project management, program management, and software development.

Senior engineering manager vs engineering program manager overview

Senior Engineering ManagerEngineering Program Manager
Yearly salary$155,753$122,604
Hourly rate$74.88$58.94
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs70,918148,543
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4848
Years of experience--

What does a senior engineering manager do?

Senior engineering managers are the leaders who oversee and supervise a team of engineers. These executives are the ones who develop, modify, create, and test solutions to technical-related problems. They direct and coordinate the production, quality assurance, maintenance, operations, or testing in industrial plants. It is part of their job to handle the research and development of new procedures and products. They are also involved in improving the advance scientific research and manufacturing processes of the company.

What does an engineering program manager do?

As an engineering program manager in the world of technology, it is their main responsibility to lead the development of important modules of new technology such as display, camera, touch ID, etc. It is their job to ensure that modules are correctly built according to specifications and given timeline. They drive day-to-day engineering related activities at the vendor's factory to meet overall program ideas. They are knowledgeable of the hardware process development and other features like display or camera design.

Senior engineering manager vs engineering program manager salary

Senior engineering managers and engineering program managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Engineering ManagerEngineering Program Manager
Average salary$155,753$122,604
Salary rangeBetween $110,000 And $218,000Between $95,000 And $157,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyAirbnbMeta
Best paying industryTelecommunicationTechnology

Differences between senior engineering manager and engineering program manager education

There are a few differences between a senior engineering manager and an engineering program manager in terms of educational background:

Senior Engineering ManagerEngineering Program Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Senior engineering manager vs engineering program manager demographics

Here are the differences between senior engineering managers' and engineering program managers' demographics:

Senior Engineering ManagerEngineering Program Manager
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 89.9% Female, 10.1%Male, 83.5% Female, 16.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 17.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.0% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between senior engineering manager and engineering program manager duties and responsibilities

Senior engineering manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead PCB design activities for achieving signal integrity and EMC/EMI compliances.
  • Manage and lead technical NPI cross-functional team, focal contact and liaison for manufacturing supply chain.
  • Direct and manage all FEA & CFD activities including hardware and software system activities.
  • Promote lead engineer to manage new internal SDLC, cutting bug-fix time from weeks to days.
  • Manage all aspects of geotechnical engineering projects from proposal preparation to review of invoices and collection of fees.
  • Develop quotes and proposals, track budgets and headcount needs, and manage outsourcing of high-volume PCB or tester builds.
  • Show more

Engineering program manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage & assist component qualification through PPAP approval process.
  • Manage prototyping, optics, and tooling for Harley-Davidson aftermarket turn signal and brake lenses.
  • Manage several projects simultaneously, with excellent track record for ensuring team on-time IP delivery.
  • Manage committees and task forces ensuring synchronization of CNC training and skills need to promote successful CNC careers.
  • Work closely with PMO to understand product portfolio needs and manage internal and external resources to meet those goals.
  • Lead IPT meetings to provide status, address programmatic and customer concerns, assign priorities, assess risk and identifyopportunities.
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Senior engineering manager vs engineering program manager skills

Common senior engineering manager skills
  • Java, 11%
  • Architecture, 8%
  • Cloud, 7%
  • Infrastructure, 7%
  • Software Development, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
Common engineering program manager skills
  • Project Management, 15%
  • Program Management, 14%
  • Software Development, 6%
  • Scrum, 4%
  • Risk Management, 3%
  • Continuous Improvement, 3%

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