Engineering Manager
An engineering manager, is responsible for overseeing a team of engineers in the completion of engineering projects. Their duties include hiring and training qualified engineering staff, setting project budgets and timelines for completion and helping their staff run tests or troubleshoot issues with prototypes.
An engineering manager in the electronics industry uses their industry knowledge to oversee a variety of activities. They may coordinate and direct activities related to maintenance, testing, quality assurance, operations and production of electronic products.
An engineering manager leads a team of engineers and supervises their work, developing solutions to better technology. Collaborating with scientists and technicians, he or she will coordinate machine design, production, and quality control.
Job Overview
Salary
Workplace
How to Start
Job Overview
What does an Engineering Manager do?
The title of “engineering manager” is shared across a wide range of industries and sectors. From software development to product design and manufacturing, what managers in this career category have in common is knowing how to manage processes, projects, and people.
They must be able to command respect from their direct reports on the manufacturing floor or deep inside a line of complex computer code. But the candidate with the most brilliant technical skills isn’t always the clear choice to lead an engineering team. As with any management hire, the best boss is often the candidate who combines technical know-how with strong soft skills such as a clear communication style, team leadership, and mentoring skills.
These professionals should understand how your product is made, but also how it’s marketed and sold. They should know the manufacturing process inside and out, but also have a wider understanding of the competitive landscape. An engineering manager’s responsibilities may also include worker safety, environmental compliance, meeting quality targets, and communicating with investors, suppliers, and potential customers.
In addition, engineering managers must know how to prepare budgets, hire staff, and supervise employees. They propose budgets for projects and programs and determine staff, training, and equipment needs. These managers must also hire people and assign them specific parts of each project to carry out. Architectural and engineering managers supervise the work of their employees, set schedules, and create administrative procedures.
Team Management
Engineering manager manages staff and assigns tasks to engineering and technical personnel. They lead teams in the development of new products, solutions, and processes.
Communication Skills
Engineering managers advocate on behalf of team members by securing adequate resources for success. They communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders, including investors and potential customers.
Project Management
Managers oversees project logistics and resource allocation. They strive to improve efficiency and sustainability of processes and product designs, and to reduce waste.
Project Budget
Engineering managers will need to secure the resources needed for teams to excel, including researching and proposing capital investments. They help to create and oversee project budgets and engages in cost management strategies.
Salary
How much does an Engineering Manager make?
The average annual salary for an Engineering Manager in the United States is $156,270. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $145,526 to $160,478, with most professionals earning between $135,744 and $164,309.
These are 2025 national salary averages and may fluctuate based on location.
Workplace
What does the workplace for an Engineering Manager look like?
Most architectural and engineering managers work in offices, although some may also work in research laboratories and industrial production plants or at construction sites. Most architectural and engineering managers work full time and some work more than 40 hours a week. These managers are often under considerable pressure to meet deadlines and budgets.
Engineering managers typically work on a project basis and are responsible for successful implementation. They create project budgets and make sure the work flows smoothly by delegating tasks, hiring, and training employees for their team, if they see fit. They create progress reports on the work as well.
Top Industries for Engineering Managers:
- Fortune 500
- Technology
- Manufacturing
- Telecommunication
- Automotive
How to Start
How to become an Engineering Manager?
Once you have your degree in electrical engineering (or a similar degree), 4-5 years of relevant work experience, and 1-2 years of management experience, will be qualified to be in a management role. A master’s degree in engineering or MBA a plus.
Typical Qualifications:
- Personnel and project management skills
- Expert-level knowledge of sector technology and processes
- Leadership, teambuilding, and mentoring skills
- Proficiency using presentation software to explain complex information to non-technical management personnel and other stakeholders
- Ability to work on multiple projects in various stages simultaneously
- Experience using computer-aided design (CAD) platforms
- Experience using System Applications and Products (SAP) software
