What Is an Engineering Manager and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Engineering managers supervise teams of engineers and other professionals whose jobs are to collaborate on designing and developing products ranging from medical equipment to computer hardware to electrical components. Your job duties are to coordinate with teams and departments, help engineers troubleshoot and problem-solve, and make sure everyone stays on schedule to meet design and production deadlines. You need strong project management skills, extensive engineering knowledge, and excellent communication and leadership skills to succeed as an engineering manager.

To pursue a career as an engineering manager, you must meet several qualifications. Your first step is to earn a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in engineering. The next step is to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) to earn your engineer in training (EIT) credential. After four years of EIT work, your next step is to take the NCEES Principles and Practices of Engineering exam to earn your professional engineer (PE) license. At that point, you will be qualified to apply for jobs as an engineering manager.

To be a good engineering manager, you must demonstrate in-depth knowledge of engineering systems and operations through successfully working on complex technical projects with your engineering teams. You need strong interpersonal skills for consulting with members of various departments as well as suppliers, vendors, and clients. Your engineers look to you for leadership and guidance, particularly when dealing with large-scale operations and complex projects. As an engineering manager, one of your primary responsibilities is to mentor your engineers and provide guidance on completing tasks to industry standards.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced, detail-oriented engineering manager to join our growing team. In this position, you will play a key role in the overall success of our organization by planning, managing, and monitoring engineering functions. You will be responsible for overseeing various engineering projects, processes, budgets, and timelines and making any necessary adjustments in order to ensure successful completion.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the engineering leader and technical expert
• Answer questions and resolve issues brought forth by the engineering team members
• Create detailed engineering plans, processes, and procedures for engineering staff to use and abide by
• Propose and oversee budgets and timelines for engineering projects
• Check and confirm the accuracy of the work performed and the methods used by engineering staff
• Conduct various tests and quality assurance checks to verify the quality of completed projects
• Monitor and determine various staffing and training needs
• Hire, train, and supervise engineering staff members
• Spearhead various research and development initiatives to identify opportunities for new projects and improved processes
• Communicate and collaborate with other managers, suppliers, and contractors
• Prepare and deliver various engineering-related presentations, both internally and externally

Requirements and Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in engineering
• Master's degree in engineering management or business administration preferred
• 6+ years of engineering experience, ideally in a management role
• Analytical and mathematical mind, capable of evaluating and solving various complex problems
• Leadership skills necessary to manage and develop a team
• Organizational competencies and project management skills to keep projects, processes, and the entire engineering team on track
• Self-motivated attitude with the ability to multitask and thrive in a timeline-driven environment
• Interpersonal communication skills with expertise in distilling complicated topics to a broader audience
• Ability to work individually or as part of a team