Skills required for an Engineering Manager role

Looking to step into the role of an Engineering Manager but not entirely sure if you’re ready? Don’t worry, many have been where you are right now but with the help from some extremely talented individuals, we can at least offer some insights into what skills should be present in your stack to give yourself the best possible chance of making the step.

With the support from Csaba Okrona, Head of Software Engineering (EGYM), Justin Scott, Head of Data & IT (E.ON Drive Infrastructure) and Ines Jordan, Head of Software Engineering (E.ON Digital Technology) we explore the core skills required for this position to round off how someone can go from an individual contributor to a successful Engineering Manager.

Each guest arrived at their role as an Engineering Manager via a unique path, contributing to a diverse set of skills they collectively consider essential for the role. However, given the variability of the Engineering Manager position across different companies, not all of these skills may be necessary for every opening. Instead, consider them as aspirational qualities to aim for in your career development.

Actual Leadership

Csaba champions the notion that people management forms the cornerstone of effective leadership. This involves not only the growth and career management of team members but also encompasses critical aspects such as performance monitoring, regular feedback, and strategic hiring practices. For Csaba he also added that an Engineering Manager’s arsenal is incomplete without emotional intelligence. The capability to empathise and understand basic human psychology is pivotal in cultivating a supportive and collaborative workspace.

Complementing Csaba’s perspective, Justin shared leadership styles that empowers rather than dictates is what will help leaders on the right track from the get-go. He advocates for a setting where team members are primed for autonomy, especially when tackling complex technical challenges. This empowerment enables team members to make informed decisions independently, fostering an environment where innovation can flourish without the constraints of micromanagement.

Echoing the importance of knowledge and communication, Ines views an effective leader as both a beacon and a bridge within the team. An adept leader to Ines, is someone who can unblock paths for their team, facilitating smooth progress. This leadership style involves taking responsibility to either provide answers or lead the quest for solutions, thereby reinforcing the team's ability to navigate challenges.

Furthermore, Ines highlighted that an effective Engineering Manager understands the team as a unique entity characterised by distinct differences. Managing these dynamics includes resolving conflicts and helping individuals find their roles within the team, ultimately enhancing team cohesion and productivity… in essence leading not telling.

Stakeholder Management

Effective stakeholder management will be an ongoing skill you must master that all our guests agreed upon.

Csaba shared the importance of strong communication skills in managing relationships with various stakeholders, including product teams, designers, and the engineering team itself. He advocates for active listening as a fundamental tool that enables a leader to bring people together, facilitate discussions, and reaching conclusions that make everyone feel heard and valued. Additionally, Csaba points out the necessity of 'selling' ideas within the organisation, whether it's securing budgets, gaining approvals, or earning buy-in for new initiatives.

Justin broadened the scope of stakeholder management by highlighting the importance of managing relationships in every direction: upwards with senior leadership, across with peers, and downwards with direct reports. This comprehensive approach ensures that communication flows effectively throughout the business, supporting both strategic alignment and operational efficiency.

Ines provided a pragmatic approach to stakeholder management by focusing on the role of an Engineering Manager as a 'fixer' who may not know every technical detail but possesses a broad awareness sufficient to guide discussions and decision-making. Ines underscores the importance of being engaged in technical discussions and swiftly becoming informed when knowledge gaps exist. Her strategy includes negotiating and removing blockers for the team, thus enabling them to concentrate on their core tasks without unnecessary distractions. This involves understanding the impact of decisions on both the team and the project, ensuring that all actions taken are in alignment with the organisational goals.

Stakeholder management prior to taking the step into Engineering Management likely involved a few touch points but always around your direct work. As you progress these touch points become more complex as you enter the world of politics within businesses. Being aligned will help you be one step ahead for you, your team and your projects.

Vision and strategic thinking.

Vision and strategic thinking are indispensable skills for an Engineering Manager, central to guiding teams not just to meet immediate goals but to align with the broader objectives of the company.

Csaba asserts that a fundamental aspect of leadership is the understanding of where the company is heading and envisioning the path the team should take to align with these goals. This entails not only a clear comprehension of the company's strategic direction but also an ability to translate this strategy into actionable steps that the team can follow. It's about breaking down the overarching vision into digestible, achievable tasks that directly contribute to the end goals.

By developing a strong grasp of both the vision and the strategic landscape of the business, an Engineering Manager becomes more than just a technical leader; they become a pivotal link between the technical operations and the strategic objectives of the entire organisation. This role is crucial in ensuring that the engineering team is not working in isolation but is fully integrated into the company, driving growth and innovation at every step.

Organisation

The ability to self-organise is not enough when stepping into a leading role, instead this skill evolves to encapsulate the ability to structure projects and workflows to help achieve consistent, high-quality results.

Csaba shared that project management is integral to this function. Engineering managers are directly responsible for ensuring that their teams deliver on time and to specification. This demands a solid understanding of different project management models, from Agile to Waterfall, and the flexibility to switch strategies when a particular approach isn't yielding desired outcomes. An EM must possess the skills to recognise when projects veer off course and have contingency plans ready to steer them back on track. This adaptability ensures that the team's workflow remains smooth and efficient, even in the face of unexpected challenges.

Passion

Justin believes that a passionate manager inspires motivation within the team by championing their successes and reinforcing their purpose. By demonstrating a deep commitment to their team's success, a passionate leader fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. This, in turn, drives team members to give their best effort, knowing that their work has meaning and will be recognised both within and beyond the immediate group. This alignment between passion and purpose fuels creativity, loyalty, and a relentless drive to achieve.

Ultimately, passion enables Engineering Managers to create an environment where their teams are motivated, confident, and purpose-driven, ensuring that every member feels connected to a shared vision.

A skill so easily overlooked, especially when there is so much to learn in the first steps into leadership.

By absorbing the advice in from all our guests across this Engineering Manager mini-series we are hopeful that we can help guide the next wave of leadership to achieve success. However, the real journey begins within the role itself. Remember why you chose this path, stay authentic, respect your team, and focus on strengthening the skills that need growth today so that you can become the best leader possible tomorrow.

Feel free to share this amongst your network and lets collectively bring simplicity to the chaos of recruitment.

Peritus Partners is a next generation recruitment team that focuses on blending education, business and community together. Interested to see how we can help find the best talent for your team or interested in finding a new job? Reach out today 😎