You're considering a career in Engineering Management. What do you need to know before making the leap?

First of all you need to be able communicate and work with engineers and other teams. In my opinion, COMMUNICATIONS is a must have skill and most difficult part of engineering manager position. It does not mean that you will be great manager if are the best engineer. I found through my career of 13 years, majority of engineers are not great communicators.

Engineering Leadership is about growing People & Business.! Each of these comes of separate focus areas and need strategic short & long term planning, execution.!

Engineering management is the application of the practice of management to the practice of engineering. Engineering management brings together the technological problem-solving ability of engineering and the organizational, administrative, legal and planning abilities of management in order to oversee the operational performance of complex engineering driven enterprises. A Master of Engineering Management (MEM) is sometimes compared to a Master of Business Administration (MBA) for professionals seeking a graduate degree as a qualifying credential for a career in engineering management.

Engineering management if done correctly allows a project to navigate the inevitable challenges with the lowest stress and lowest impact to productivity. A big emphasis for engineering management should be on the engineering, not the management. To get the best out of your various discipline engineers, you need to be able to define the path forward, adapt quickly in times of change and have enough technical capability to make informed practical decisions for the project.

While Engineering management work involves more leadership and decision-making, having a strong technical background is essential for understanding the work of your team and effectively communicating with them. A good manager should be able to effectively communicate technical requirements and functionalities effectively to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Additionally, he should be familiar with business principles, including budgeting, finance, marketing, and strategic planning as engineering managers often need to align technical decisions with business objectives. Moreover, he should Stay updated on industry trends, technological advancements, and best practices within his/her specific engineering field to remain competitive.

The ultimate benefit of engineering management is the opportunity to contribute and help more people, on a larger scale. Be certain that the role aligns with what you most want to do with your life.

Engineering management provides several advantages, such as the opportunity to influence the organization and industry by leading strategic and complex engineering initiatives. It allows you to develop and refine leadership, communication, and business skills, while also experiencing the satisfaction of helping your team grow and succeed. Moreover, engineering managers are in high demand, which not only offers greater influence and visibility within the organization but also enhances the potential for higher salaries and career advancement.

Engineering management offers significant benefits: ▪️ Optimizes Resource Use: Ensures efficient allocation of resources, increasing productivity. ▪️ Enhances Team Coordination: Improves communication and coordination among technical teams, leading to more cohesive project development. ▪️ Drives Project Success: Through strategic planning and effective risk management ▪️ Boosts Innovation: Encourages a culture of innovation by providing a structured environment where creative solutions are fostered. ▪️ Develops Talent: Focuses on the professional growth of engineers, enhancing their skills and career paths. ▪️ Aligns with Business Goals: Bridges the gap between technical teams and business objectives

I found the engineering management diploma run by the IET to be very useful. It broadened my horizons and taught me different skills from my engineering degree. It also gave me the opportunity at work to network with and learn from people across the organisation that I may not have had direct contact which helped me enormously.

Shifting from engineering, to engineering management: your primary thought needs to be on the people themselves, and how they will react to their situation, not on the technical work and how the pieces will come together. You probably will get promoted at least partially on the latter, so you've got that; the "new responsibilities" are harder. Even if you are already a people person, leading them through supervision means they'll listen to you with much more attention, so be careful to solicit their opinions. Team cohesion, leveraging idea people, keeping hard workers engaged, and figuring out those who skate by are all now your responsibility.

The biggest challenge in a transition from IC to an EM is a shift in the mindset in that sense there's no direct output of an average EM role. Engineering manager is the person to multiply the output of their underlying organisation, effectively leveraging different skills of different people. There is not direct body of work produced by an EM. The more people an EM is having in their direct report cohort the more abstracted their work becomes, often bringing them to a level of extremely efficient choir conductor.

Engineering management faces several challenges: ▪️ Balancing Technical and Management Roles: Shifting focus from hands-on technical work to leadership and strategic planning. ▪️ Resource Allocation: Efficiently distributing limited resources across projects to meet deadlines and budgets. ▪️ Team Dynamics: Managing diverse personalities and skill sets, fostering teamwork and resolving conflicts. ▪️ Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying updated with rapid technological advancements and integrating them into projects. ▪️ Communication Barriers: Bridging the communication gap between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders. ▪️ Change Management: Navigating and leading teams through organizational changes and technological shifts.

Hoy en día la gestión de la ingeniería es una rama donde focalizarse si se viene de estudios de ingeniería pero cabe resaltar que se deben de trabajar unas soft skills que apoyen a la parte de ingeniería y técnica. Si te sientes cómodo/a entre reuniones y debates acerca de personas, de sus inquietudes, de su trayectoria profesional, etc..., disfrutarás con la gestión de la ingeniería. De lo contrario, planteate dedicarte más en exclusiva a una trayectoria profesional como ingeniero/a.

In my experience, engineering management revolves around being a supportive leader and having a solid grasp of the technical aspects. It's all about guiding the team and nurturing their growth through mentorship. Continuous learning is crucial. This involves understanding how our work aligns with the company's objectives, figuring out the best ways to inspire our team, and managing conflicts effectively. Above all, our focus should always be on achieving business goals by delivering quality products quickly. Balancing quality and speed is essential for success

Skills and qualifications for engineering management include: ▪️ Technical Expertise: Strong foundation in engineering principles and practices. ▪️ Leadership Skills: Ability to inspire, lead, and manage diverse technical teams. ▪️ Strategic Thinking: Capability to align engineering projects with business goals. ▪️ Communication: Effective communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. ▪️ Problem-Solving: Innovative approach to overcoming challenges and optimizing solutions. ▪️ Project Management: Proficiency in managing budgets, timelines, and resources. ▪️ Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying updated on technological advancements.

Consider the analogy of constructing a skyscraper: just as an architect needs a deep understanding of structural engineering principles, materials, and design techniques, an engineering manager must possess a comprehensive grasp of engineering methodologies, tools, and best practices. Yet, akin to the project manager orchestrating the construction process, proficiency in project management methodologies and software is equally indispensable for overseeing complex engineering endeavors from conception to completion.In summary, the role of an engineering manager demands a blend of technical expertise, managerial finesse, and interpersonal proficiency akin to the harmonious orchestration required in constructing towering architectural marvels.

Assess skills needed: Engineering management requires technical knowledge, project management experience, and strong leadership and communication skills.

from my point of view the 2 of most important skills you need to have are delegation and leadership. Effective delegation involves not only assigning tasks but also empowering team members, trusting their capabilities, and providing the right balance of support and autonomy. Leadership, on the other hand, requires the ability to inspire, guide, and motivate a diverse team towards achieving common goals, navigating challenges, and fostering a positive, productive work environment.

Preparing for engineering management involves building a strong foundation in technical skills and understanding your field's specific language. Enhance your knowledge with leadership and project management courses to understand how to guide teams effectively. Learning the terminology is crucial; it ensures clear communication within your team and with stakeholders. Practice these skills by taking on leadership roles in smaller projects, which will help you develop the necessary experience. Additionally, work on soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Seek feedback regularly to refine your approach. This combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, and continuous learning will equip you for the challenge.

This response isn't going to win me many thumbs up, but I'm going to say it anyway. The further into Engineering Management you go, the further away you go from doing engineering design. So think hard about what you really enjoy doing. If you want to be that engineer who designs something, solves the problem, and see it get built, then be that engineer. If that's not important to you, then by all means, become an engineering manager. It's a perfectly fine career. It was always trite, but also true advice - do what you love and success, however you wish to measure it, will follow.

Preparing for engineering management involves: ▪️ Gain Experience: Work in various engineering roles to understand different aspects of engineering projects. ▪️ Develop Leadership Skills: Take on leadership roles, even in small capacities, to hone your management abilities. ▪️ Communication Skills: Practice clear, effective communication, crucial for leading teams and liaising between stakeholders. ▪️Project Management: Understand project management principles and tools to efficiently manage resources and timelines. ▪️ Understand Business Fundamentals: Gain knowledge of business strategies, financial principles, and market dynamics. ▪️ Seek Mentorship: Find mentors who can provide guidance, share experiences, and offer insights

You already know the technical stuff. Don't keep doing it, but use that knowledge in a different way. Study personality type interactions. You don't want your introverts sidelined (more than they want to be), and you don't want all the work to fall to your outspoken people. You know the work well enough to know who to give it to. Then take the technical work to do, and find a way to turn individual tasks into pieces big/small enough and of a good type for each person on the team. Scrum Master or Tech Lead is a good stepping stone to engineering management: break the big picture body of work into achievable pieces, make process suggestions, and work closely with the manager to get the right processes/assignments.

For multi-disciplined teams, don't be worried about asking SMEs or discipline-specific management outside your IPT for help. Quality departments with discipline specialists are a good source of help as well. Try to measure using common (or similar) practices, work products and lifecycle milestones to get a broader view across your IPT engineering team rather than the interesting (for engineers) but specific events. Remember your manager may be as confused with unfamiliar engineering disciplines as you were when you started on this journey so they'll want a common view of progress.

When considering a transition into engineering management or seeking to excel in the role, keep in mind: ▪️ Embrace Adaptability: The tech landscape changes rapidly; staying flexible and open to new methods is key. ▪️ Cultivate Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing your emotions and those of your team can greatly enhance leadership effectiveness. ▪️ Prioritize Delegation: Learning to trust your team with responsibilities is crucial for managing larger projects efficiently. ▪️ Focus on Continuous Improvement: Adopt a mindset of lifelong learning to keep your skills and knowledge relevant ▪️ Network Widely: Building relationships within and outside your industry can open up new opportunities. ▪️ Balance Technical and Soft Skills

An Engineering Manager is first an Engineer and then also a Leader. To lead a team one must have credibility in the topic. While you will leave hands-on Engineering, you will still contribute to architecture, requirements and design review.

Transitioning from a technical role to Engineering Management signifies a shift in responsibilities towards people’s careers. As an Engineering Manager, your focus should be on bringing out the best in your direct reports through coaching, motivation, rewards, and recognition. It’s crucial to foster a culture and environment that allows team members to thrive and reach their full potential.

Try and Practice all types of management programs before deciding on which program you wish to specialize and professionalize your skills in that field.