Published:Mar 27, 2025

Engineering Manager: Role, Salary, and How to Lead Technical Teams

Key Takeaways

  • Role at the Crossroads of Technology & Leadership

    • Engineering managers oversee technical projects, guide teams, and align engineering efforts with broader organizational goals.

    • They balance technical expertise with project management and people-management skills.

  • Essential Skills & Qualifications

    • Most engineering managers hold an engineering degree, often supplemented by certification or an advanced degree.

    • Successful managers excel in leadership, communication, project oversight, and strategic planning.

  • Varied Career Pathways

    • Engineers often rise through tech lead or senior engineer roles to become managers.

    • A range of industries — from software and aerospace to construction — needs engineering managers.

  • High Salary & Growth Potential

    • Engineering manager salary can outpace other engineering roles due to leadership responsibilities.

    • Opportunities for advancement include senior engineering manager, engineering director, or higher executive roles.

  • Challenges & Continuous Learning

    • Challenges include shifting to a team mindset after being an individual contributor, managing conflict and communication, and avoiding micromanaging.

    • Thinking strategically, adapting, and developing core skills are crucial for long-term success.

  • Interview & Advancement Prep

    • Prospective engineering managers should be prepared for behavioral and scenario-based questions testing leadership, conflict resolution, and technical knowledge.

    • Ongoing mentorship, proactively seeking out opportunities, and industry networking help maintain growth and relevance.

What do self-driving cars, stunning skyscrapers, and the latest AI-powered apps have in common? Behind every innovation, there’s an engineering manager who guides these projects to success.

You’ll find engineering managers across every engineering discipline — from civil to mechanical, systems to software. They combine technical expertise and leadership to manage both engineering projects and the teams who execute them.

In this article, we’ll explore the responsibilities and challenges of this crucial role. We’ll also identify the skills and qualifications needed to become an engineering manager.

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What Does an Engineering Manager Do?

An engineering manager oversees a team of engineers and the projects they’re working on. The manager is responsible for developing a healthy, high-performing team and ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the correct specifications.

In this leadership position, an engineering manager is less involved in the hands-on technical aspects of projects. Instead, they focus on allocating resources properly, managing conflicts or problems that arise, and communicating with their team, other departments, and senior business leaders.1

On a day-to-day basis, engineering manager responsibilities include:2

  • Designing and managing project timelines

  • Running short, daily meetings called stand-ups

  • Delegating tasks to team members

  • Coaching their team through challenges

  • Managing project and department budgets

  • Collaborating with other departments and managers

Larger organizations have multiple engineering leaders.3 While there is some overlap between an engineering manager and these other leadership roles, each position has a different focus. 

For example, a tech lead serves as a technical expert for an engineering team. This hands-on role involves reviewing other engineers’ work, upholding technical standards, and solving complex technical problems. While a tech lead focuses on technical excellence within a team, an engineering manager focuses on team growth and productivity.4

A project manager is responsible for completing projects on time and within budget and scope. They focus on the process and logistics of a project, creating detailed plans and budgets.4 A project manager may or may not have a technical background, while an engineering manager does.

A product manager acts as the voice of the customer in engineering projects. Their goal is to create a vision for the product and ensure the final product provides value to customers. They work cross-functionally with engineering, design, and marketing teams, but do not manage people directly.5

Engineering Manager

Technical Lead

Project Manager

Product Manager

Primary Focus

Team health, growth, and productivity

Technical excellence

Successful project completion

Product strategy and market fit

Expertise

People management, technical oversight

Technical implementation, problem-solving

Project planning, risk management

Business, customer needs

Responsibility

Manage people

Manage the “how” of technical solutions

Manage timelines

Manage the “why” of the product

Education & Qualifications

Aspiring engineering managers need a combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, and professional experience. Specific education and qualifications vary by industry and organization, but these are the most common requirements:

  • 1. Bachelor’s Degree:

    At minimum, you’ll need an undergraduate degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, formally known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.6 For example, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering meets this requirement.

  • 2. Master’s Degree:

    Many organizations value candidates with advanced degrees. A Master of Science in Engineering ensures you have a high level of technical knowledge. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) develops your leadership and management skills. Meanwhile, a Master in Engineering Management (MEM) offers a blend of technical and leadership skills.

  • 3. Professional License:

    If you work in certain fields like civil engineering or mechanical engineering, becoming a licensed engineer shows your professional competence and commitment.

    Full licensure is a multi-step process. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) License requires you to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering and pass a six-hour exam. After gaining four years of supervised work experience under a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), candidates must pass the eight-hour Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam to obtain full licensure.7

  • 4. Certification:

    Additional certifications can help you develop the skills to be a successful engineering manager and stand out as an applicant. Consider the following certifications:

Essential Skills & Qualities

A successful engineering manager needs technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills to guide teams through successful projects.

When you work as an engineer before advancing to a manager, you develop a deep understanding of your engineering discipline. You’re familiar with the tools of your industry. This experience allows you to speak your team’s language, offer technical guidance, and make informed decisions.

However, your leadership and management skills are just as important as your technical know-how. You will need to be able to:

  • Recruit, mentor, and retain talented employees

  • Resolve conflicts between team members

  • Balance priorities and avoid team burnout

  • Align individual engineers’ goals with team or business goals

All of the above requires strong people and project management skills. For example, empathy and active listening can help you understand your team’s concerns and what motivates each person. Building strong relationships with and among your team members creates a culture of trust and collaboration. And clear communication helps you articulate engineering solutions to non-technical stakeholders.

Lastly, an aspiring engineering manager needs to be a strategic thinker and problem solver. Having a clear vision and action plan helps your team achieve long-term goals. Thinking strategically additionally helps you adapt when priorities change and new technologies emerge as your team looks to you for guidance.

Job Description & Day-to-Day Activities

A typical engineering manager job description entails overseeing projects, managing a team of engineers, and ensuring business goals are met. But what this looks like on a day-to-day basis varies by the branch of engineering you work in.

Software Engineering Managers

Software engineering managers lead teams of software engineers and developers as they design, code, test, and deploy applications. Since many teams work remotely, communication and collaboration can be particularly challenging.

Agile or Scrum methodologies are popular project management frameworks for managing workflows and ensuring projects are launched on time and within scope. Engineering managers also lead daily stand-up meetings where the team checks in and gives updates on their progress.2

With their technical expertise, software engineering managers additionally ensure the quality of the code and security of the application. They may schedule or facilitate code reviews, where developers check each other’s work for potential issues and offer feedback.

Civil Engineering Managers

Civil engineering managers oversee infrastructure and construction projects, ranging from roads and bridges to buildings and water systems. These projects may take years to complete and call for strong project management and communication skills to coordinate with architects, contractors, and local government representatives.

Managers are additionally responsible for making sure their team’s work complies with environmental regulations, building codes, and safety standards. They must also draw on their technical background to oversee geotechnical surveys, material testing, and site preparation. As a result, some managers are frequently in the field and heavily involved in the project site.

Mechanical Engineering Managers

Mechanical engineering managers oversee the design, testing, and manufacturing of mechanical components, such as engines or HVAC systems. As the team prototypes and tests designs, the manager must make sure projects meet safety, performance, and regulatory standards.

With more complicated systems, engineering managers often have to coordinate with engineers in other disciplines, such as materials, industrial, quality assurance, or electrical engineers. This requires a balance of technical expertise and leadership skills.

Systems Engineering Managers

Systems engineering managers lead complex projects that integrate systems across multiple engineering disciplines. These kinds of projects are common in the aerospace, defense, and healthcare industries.

Unlike other managers, they require an in-depth understanding to bridge gaps between disciplines. Strong communication skills help to navigate and translate technical knowledge. For instance, managers may define requirements describing what the system should do and design a system architecture to meet those requirements. Throughout the project, the manager must also effectively lead cross-disciplinary teams to ensure all components work together smoothly.

Salary & Career Prospects

The increase in responsibilities as an engineering manager also comes with an increase in salary. 

As of 2025, engineering managers earn an average of $174,154, compared to an average of $110,149 for engineers.12,13 Senior engineering managers earn even more: up to $400,000 per year.14

Engineering management jobs are also expected to grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% increase in job openings for engineering managers from 2023–2033. That’s more than 15,000 job openings per year!15

Typical Career Path & Timeline

The journey to becoming an engineering manager requires a bachelor's degree in engineering (at minimum) and years of hands-on experience in the field.16 During this time, you gain a formal education in engineering, build your technical skills as an individual contributor, and gradually develop your leadership skills.

Engineers typically begin as a junior engineer or associate engineer. Here, you build a strong foundation in your field and its standard tools and processes. You hone your technical skills as you focus on delivering quality work and making meaningful contributions to your team’s projects.

Once you have developed your technical skills, you may progress to a senior engineer or technical lead. In these roles, focus on improving your soft skills, like problem-solving, communication, and organization.

You should also start to shift your mindset from “doing” to “leading.” These senior roles allow you to own part of a project, propose process improvements, introduce new technologies, or mentor junior engineers. Try to find a balance between what you produce and how you influence others.

Over time, seek out opportunities that allow you to lead small projects or teams. You’ll not only show your initiative but also gain the hands-on leadership experience you’ll need as a manager. 

Continue to shift your mindset from producing work yourself to setting up your team to make their best effort. Get comfortable with delegating tasks, managing resources, and communicating with engineers and project stakeholders alike. Once you have both technical skills and leadership skills, you can pursue a promotion to engineering manager. Thereafter, potential advancements include senior engineering manager, engineering director, or higher executive roles.

As you navigate your career path, a mentor can offer valuable support and guidance. Look to your mentor for constructive feedback on your performance and areas for improvement. One-on-one coaching can accelerate your growth, especially with soft skills.

Challenges in Transitioning from Engineer to Manager

The transition from engineer to manager can be bumpy at times. You’re taking on a new role with different responsibilities, and it takes time to adjust.

For many engineers, the biggest challenge is the mindset shift. You’re no longer an individual contributor — you’re a leader. Your success is no longer measured by what you produce but by your team’s success.17,18

Managers who struggle to let go of technical work may fall into the trap of micromanaging their team.19 (And no one likes that.) Instead, trust your team’s expertise and only provide guidance when needed. When you delegate tasks, focus on the outcomes rather than dictating how the tasks should be completed.

Another common challenge is managing people rather than tasks. Engineers spend many years solving logical problems. However, when they become managers, they need to navigate team dynamics and help others.18

That’s why developing leadership, communication, and conflict-resolution skills is important. Meet with team members one-on-one and actively listen to their needs and concerns. Provide constructive feedback to nurture their growth and advance their career goals. Create a positive team culture by celebrating their achievements, encouraging innovation, promoting high-performers, and letting go of underperformers.

Interview Prep & Common Questions

Engineering manager interviews assess your technical expertise, management skills, and leadership style. Interviewers will want to see how you manage stress, communicate, understand business needs, and lead others.20

Expect behavioral and situational questions that explore your past experiences and how you handle challenges.21 Some examples include:

  • Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision with limited information.

  • Give an example of a time you had to deal with competing priorities.

  • Tell me about a time you failed at work and what you learned from it.

For these questions, use the Situation, Task, Action, and Result (STAR) method to structure your responses.21 First, describe the situation by sharing relevant context and background information. Next, describe the task. What were you trying to accomplish? Third, describe what you did to complete the task. And lastly, describe the result. What were the outcomes of your actions? What did you learn from the experience?

Other interview questions will evaluate how you plan to approach the management role:22

  • What are your strategies for keeping remote or hybrid teams engaged?

  • How do you approach identifying and accelerating career progression for top-performing engineers?

  • Explain your process for evaluating and adopting new technologies or methodologies within an engineering team.

Follow these tips to prepare for an engineering manager interview:

  • Do your research:

    Go in prepared with an understanding of the business, its values, and recent news.

  • Review your past experiences:

    Identify real stories that demonstrate your approach to leadership, project management, decision-making, and more.

  • Prepare questions for the interviewer:

    Interviews should be conversations, not interrogations. Come in with thoughtful questions to learn more about the business and the role beyond what’s available in the job description.

Advance Your Engineering Career

Becoming an engineering manager is an exciting promotion that requires both technical knowledge and leadership abilities. From overseeing projects to mentoring engineers, every day brings new challenges and opportunities.

So embrace continuous learning. Hone your leadership style, and keep up with the latest advances in your industry. As you transition from an individual contributor to a team leader, you can make an even bigger impact on your organization.

Sources:

1 - https://alexpeattie.com/files/em-slides.pdf 

2 - https://waydev.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/A-Modern-View-on-an-Engineering-Managers-Responsibilities-_compressed.pdf 

3 - https://peer.asee.org/what-is-an-engineering-manager.pdf 

4 - https://www.rubick.com/engineering-manager-vs-tech-lead 

5 - https://blog.get-merit.com/engineering-manager-vs-product-manager-whats-the-difference 

6 - https://www.abet.org/accreditation/what-is-accreditation/why-abet-accreditation-matters/ 

7 - https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/how-get-licensed 

8 - https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp 

9 - https://www.sixsigmacouncil.org/lean-six-sigma-green-belt-certification-standard/ 

10 - https://www.scrumalliance.org/get-certified/scrum-master-track 

11 - https://asem.org/caem/ 

12 - https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/engineering-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,19.htm 

13 - https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,8.htm 

14 - https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/senior-engineering-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,26.htm 

15 - https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/architectural-and-engineering-managers.htm

16 - https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/architectural-and-engineering-managers.htm#tab-4 

17 - https://stackoverflow.blog/2022/02/23/what-you-give-up-when-moving-into-engineering-management/ 

18 - https://medium.com/engineering-managers-journal/moving-up-as-an-engineer-should-you-become-a-manager-f085254d7bcc 

19 - https://www.tryexponent.com/blog/transitioning-from-software-engineer-to-engineering-manager 

20 - https://medium.com/srivatsan-sridharan/cracking-the-engineering-manager-interview-part-1-adb0b63c7f2f 

21 - https://medium.com/srivatsan-sridharan/cracking-the-engineering-manager-interview-situational-interview-preparation-358e0a77ca27 

22 - https://medium.com/srivatsan-sridharan/cracking-the-engineering-manager-interview-people-leadership-abc54564ab50