What is a Director of Engineering?
Whether they work in aerospace, defense, construction, technology, retail or pharmaceuticals, it is the job of a Director of Engineering to coordinate all engineering activities within his or her organization. Directors of Engineering are responsible for making sure that goals are met, standards of quality are upheld and legal regulations are adhered to.
Directors of Engineering typically report to higher-level executive level management, and oversee one or more lower-level Engineering Managers. While Engineering Managers work on a daily basis with engineers and their ongoing projects, Directors of Engineering take a more holistic approach and often rely on big-picture analysis to determine a course of action. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for Architectural and Engineering Managers, which includes Directors of Engineering, is rising by 2 percent. This is expected to result in the opening of 3,700 openings through 2024.
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Director of Engineering Duties and Responsibilities
Create Plans and Systems
Oversee Developmental Processes
Analyze Metrics and Finances
Ensure Safety
Director of Engineering Skills
Directors of Engineering are strategic, analytical and innovative. They are able to break down and translate complicated sets of data just as easily as they are able to lead an entire team of engineers, and they thrive on creating new processes while simultaneously adhering to tried and true methods. In addition to these general skills and personality traits, employers are looking for Directors of Engineering with the following skills.
Core skills Based on our analysis of of job postings, employers are seeking Directors of Engineering with these core skills. If you’d like to be a Director of Engineering, home in on the following.
- Directing projects with cross-functional teams
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Able to make well-informed decisions under pressure
- Interpreting data and metrics
- Managing budgets and resources
- Building teams
- Strong organizational skills
Advanced skills While employers do not necessarily require potential candidates to have these skills, they are often viewed as preferable by employers. To expand your career opportunities, work on mastering the following.
- Experience with coding and software (in the technology sector)
- Active in relevant industry communities
- Passion for exploring new and groundbreaking processes
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Director of Engineering Salary
Director of Engineering Resources
We collected this list of resources to help you continue exploring your career as a Director of Engineering. Read on to discover everything from relevant blogs to helpful books.
On the Web
MachineDesign.comFrequently updated website full of articles, blog posts, news stories and learning resources related to mechanical engineering.
Uber Engineering BlogThis blog is centered around the engineering team of the popular ridesharing service Uber. It features visualizations of data sets, explanations of Uber’s engineering tactics and more.
Engineering.comThis website is packed with articles on engineering in all sectors, including computer technology, aerospace, defense and more.
On Twitter
@stevewozSteve Wozniak is one of Apple’s two cofounders as well as a worldclass computer engineer.
@BillNyeBill Nye is a mechanical engineer, scientific educator, television star and the current CEO of The Planetary Society.
@spiantinoSerkan Piantino is the Director of Engineering at Facebook’s artificial intelligence research lab.
Books
507 Mechanical MovementsPacked with hundreds of intricate illustrations and detailed explanations, this book is a musthave for any mechanical engineer. Covers the first one hundred years of the American Industrial Revolution.
Beginning Software EngineeringSince this book does not assume any prior experience with either engineering or management, it makes for an easy introduction into the world of software engineering as well as a great basic reference guide.
First, Break All the RulesUses metaanalysis of data compiled on over 80,000 managers to identify the specific practices that set outstanding managers apart from the rest.
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