Engineering Manager 101
Having worked in the tech industry for the last 10 years, I have performed a variety of roles including: Software Engineer, Product Manager , and Engineering Manager . I often get asked by colleagues and friends to describe the differences between the roles. Many often wonder whether they should switch roles, and how I decided to switch roles throughout my career. Given the frequency, I decided to write down my take, so others may benefit and use it to better guide their own careers. Below is my primer on the role of an Engineering Manager in a software company. The primer is organized from high-level responsibilities (the what) down to the low-level tasks (the how) required for competency. It is not an exhaustive list, but should set reasonable expectations. Top Responsibilities Team Plan An EM is directly responsible for the long-term health and sustainability of the organization they manage; in terms of both people and product. This requires managing the day-to-day work and p...