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Senior manager engineering and operations skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. John Ballato,

Dr. John Ballato

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior manager engineering and operations skills. We ranked the top skills for senior managers engineering and operations based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.4% of senior manager engineering and operations resumes contained continuous improvement as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior manager engineering and operations needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior manager engineering and operations skills for your resume and career

1. 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 senior managers engineering and operations use continuous improvement:

Developed an audit process to comply with Government regulations, and facilitated continuous improvement utilizing Lean / Six Sigma Methodologies.
Lead continuous improvement by utilizing Industrial Engineering principles and techniques and collaborating with Operations Engineers on company sponsored initiatives.

2. Project Management

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use project management:

Managed compressor station design oversight and project management.
Provide Project Management expertise for all engineering projects.

3. Direct Reports

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use direct reports:

Led 10 direct reports and 300+ indirect reports delivering 250,000+ line cards per week.
Led 10 direct reports and 300 associates/technicians within an $18M budget.

4. Lean Six Sigma

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use lean six sigma:

Contributed executive-level project leadership, strategy and business expertise to cross-functional project teams utilizing Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
Introduced/established Tiffany's Lean Six Sigma program.

5. 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 senior managers engineering and operations use sigma:

Designed and globally implemented Six Sigma processes for the state-of-the-art electronics manufacturing
Process guardian, using Lean and Six Sigma techniques to ensure mission critical products consistently exceed semiconductor industry and customer requirements.

6. Program Management

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use program management:

Provide executive team with strategic and tactical leadership in the areas of budget planning, business transformation and program management.
Program Manager (Contractor) Engineering & Technical Operations PMO * Developed best practices methodologies for Engineering Program Management Office.

7. Architecture

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use architecture:

Defined infrastructure architecture and ensured application of architectural standards as well as alignment with enterprise architecture principles.
Executed design activities and established standards/leading practices for design activities, leveraging knowledge of architecture design.

8. SR

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use sr:

Team consisted of >250 Sr. level employees across multiple operating units.
Program Manager and later promoted to Sr.

9. Linux

Linux is a Unix-like operating system. Just like Windows, Mac OS, and IOS, Linux is an operating system used by millions across the globe. Android itself is powered by the Linux operating system. Linux manages all the hardware resources that are associated with your computer. The software is famous because of the protection it grants from viruses, malware, and crashes. The Linux operating system is entirely free and is an open-source software meaning it can be altered by those equipped with the knowledge to code.

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use linux:

Deliver email and Active Directory services to the environment; maintain OS levels of Windows and Linux (RHEL).
Managed a matrix organization of 20+ employees to benchmark and test the Linux operating system and Blade Hardware.

10. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use windows:

Manage the outsourced relationship which oversees Corporate Express' 200+ Windows servers, Exchange and AS/400 environments.
Analyzed, planned, designed and implemented Windows 2000 Active Directory network.

11. Lean Manufacturing

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use lean manufacturing:

Reduced labor-related costs 50% and lowered assembly cycle time from 3.5 days to 1 by implementing LEAN manufacturing principles.
Lead a Lean Manufacturing initiative to reduce mold change times.

12. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use logistics:

Managed North American logistics, material planning, and 18 warehouse locations in 12 states.
Evaluated PeopleSoft, Telecordia, I2 Technology and DataStream logistics applications for inventory tracking and supply chain management.

13. SLA

SLA refers to Service-level Agreement. It is an agreement between a customer and the service provider on the quality of service and what standards they must meet.

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use sla:

Analyzed team metrics to ensure SLA's achieved and identified problem areas that needed improvement.
Support the NOC for network monitoring and SLA requirements for a large demanding customer base.

14. QA

QA, or Quality Assurance is a procedure that entails all of the steps taken to avoid any errors in the manufacturing process or in the production of the goods that a company produces. It can also include ensuring the consistency of the services rendered. Quality assurance ensures that the quality of the service delivered to consumers meets or exceeds the promised expectations. This greatly aids in the prevention of any complications that might arise after the goods or services have been distributed. It makes sure that customers are satisfied.

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use qa:

Developed and implemented final QA testing procedures for new Business Unit products designed to enter the hospitality market.
Managed QA for research oriented development efforts and for high visibility, production focused development efforts tied to revenue generation.

15. Engineering Organization

Here's how senior managers engineering and operations use engineering organization:

Led PeopleSoft / Sarbanes-Oxley compliance initiative for engineering organization.
Originated best in class project-based accounting planning tool and processes for the Platform Engineering organization.

What skills help Senior Managers Engineering And Operations find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on senior manager engineering and operations 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 soft skills should all senior manager engineering and operationss 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 senior manager engineering and operationss?

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 senior manager engineering and operations 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 senior manager engineering and operationss need?

Matthew Barry Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh

There are many skills young graduates will need when entering the workforce in the coming years. One of the most important is the use of software, particularly Computer Aided Design (CAD) software in any platform (SolidWorks, CATIA, Autodesk, etc.). CAD is ubiquitous in most engineering jobs and is used by most employees, from draftsmen and machinists to engineers. Students that can proficiently use CAD for constructing parts, models, to set up tooling (such as CAMWorks), construct PCBs, and to do basic analyses (such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA), vibrational analyses and the like) have a tremendous hiring advantage over students that lack these skills. Additionally, students that have experience and proficiency with FEA and/or Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software are in high demand. Finally, in terms of software, students that are able to code (and it doesn't matter what language or software, whether its MATLAB, C, C++, Java, Python) are needed. Most companies develop their own in-house codes and routines to do basic, repetitive tasks, or to develop models that are used in design and analysis. Being able to code is a highly desirable skill. Lastly, students should have some skills and experiences when it comes to hands-on activities. Being a modern engineer requires being able to not only design and analyze something, but to be able to figure out the tooling, assembly, and repair of various components. Having hands-on experience, whether it is with electrical circuitry, machining physical parts, or printing and assembling prototypes, indicates high levels of spatial reasoning, and is a sought after skill by employers.

What technical skills for a senior manager engineering and operations 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 senior manager engineering and operations skills to add to your resume

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

Continuous Improvement
Project Management
Direct Reports
Lean Six Sigma
Sigma
Program Management
Architecture
SR
Linux
Windows
Lean Manufacturing
Logistics
SLA
QA
Engineering Organization

Process Improvement
OpEx
CAPEX
IP
R
Incident Management
ISO
Management Process
Network Operations
FDA
Engineering Support
Network Infrastructure
Capacity Planning
Strategic Direction
Vendor Management

Capital Projects
Provisioning
Vendor Relationships
Release Management
Data Analysis
Debugging
RF
Operational Efficiency
Data Centers
Virtualization
NOC
HR
Broadband
Cost Savings

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.

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Senior Manager Engineering And Operations Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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