Engineering Manager vs. Director: What Are the Differences?

A career in management can offer opportunities to lead and oversee the work of others in a variety of industries. Two common management positions are that of an engineering manager and a director. Both of these roles come with a unique set of responsibilities. In this article, we compare and contrast the job titles of engineering manager and director.

What is an Engineering Manager?

Engineering Managers are responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising the work of engineers in a company. They collaborate with other managers to determine the engineering department’s goals and objectives. They also develop budgets and schedules for projects. Engineering Managers typically have a background in engineering and use their technical knowledge to provide guidance to engineers. They also use their interpersonal skills to motivate and lead teams. Engineering Managers typically work in office settings, but they may also travel to worksites to observe engineers at work.

What is a Director?

Directors are responsible for overseeing and leading a team of employees in a company or organization. They develop strategies and goals for their team and work to ensure that these are met. Directors also manage budgets and resources, and they may be responsible for hiring and firing employees. In some cases, directors may also be responsible for creating and implementing policies. Directors typically report to upper management, and they may have a team of managers reporting to them.

Engineering Manager vs. Director

Here are the main differences between an engineering manager and a director.

Job Duties

Both directors and engineering managers have similar job duties, but the tasks they complete daily can differ. Directors often manage teams of employees who work on a project from start to finish. Engineering managers usually work with teams too, but they provide guidance rather than direction. This means that an engineering manager might help their team complete projects within specific deadlines, but the team creates the ideas for completing the project without assistance.

Other daily job duties for both roles include creating schedules, assigning jobs to team members and providing feedback after projects are completed. Both positions also ensure that products meet quality standards and that products are created on time.

Job Requirements

Engineering managers typically need to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, although some employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree. Additionally, many engineering managers have experience working as an engineer before moving into management roles. Some engineering managers also pursue certifications through professional organizations, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). These certifications can demonstrate a commitment to the profession and provide engineers with additional skills they can use on the job.

Directors typically need to have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or another related field. Many directors also have experience working in management roles before taking on a director position. Additionally, some directors pursue certifications through professional organizations, such as the Project Management Institute (PMI). These certifications can help directors demonstrate their commitment to the profession and provide them with additional skills they can use on the job.

Work Environment

Engineering managers typically work in an office setting, but they may also travel to visit different locations and meet with employees. They often spend time working on computers and reviewing reports. Engineering directors usually work in an office environment as well, but they may also travel to visit different locations and meet with clients or other engineering teams.

Engineering managers may work more regular hours than engineering directors because of their managerial responsibilities. However, both positions can have irregular schedules depending on the needs of the company.

Skills

Both engineering managers and directors need to have excellent problem-solving skills. Engineering managers use these skills when they are overseeing projects and teams of engineers, as they need to be able to identify issues that may arise and develop solutions to prevent or mitigate them. Directors also need to be able to solve problems, but their focus is typically on larger strategic issues facing an organization.

Both engineering managers and directors need to have strong communication skills. Engineering managers use communication to interact with their team members, provide updates on projects and relay instructions. They also need to be able to effectively communicate with other departments in an organization, such as marketing, sales and finance. Directors also need to be able to communicate well, but their interactions are typically with upper management, shareholders and the board of directors.

Organizational skills are important for both engineering managers and directors. Engineering managers need to be able to keep track of multiple projects and deadlines, as well as the progress of their team members. Directors need to be able to see the big picture and understand how all the different pieces of an organization fit together. They also need to be able to make decisions that will have a positive impact on the long-term goal of the organization.

Salary

Engineering managers earn an average salary of $127,339 per year, while directors earn an average salary of $104,930 per year. Both of these salaries can vary depending on the size of the company, the location of the job and the level of experience the employee has.