Engineering Manager roles have evolved significantly over the past few years, especially across hardware, electronics, and embedded systems. What was once a primarily technical leadership position has become a hybrid role that blends people leadership, delivery responsibility, technical oversight, and strategic influence.
This shift has led many senior engineers to ask, “How do I become an Engineering Manager?” while experienced leaders are searching, “What do companies look for when hiring Engineering Managers today?”
In this guide, we break down the realities of Engineering Manager jobs in 2026. We answer the most common questions candidates are asking, explore what hiring managers truly value, and explain how to position yourself successfully whether you are stepping into management for the first time or moving into your next leadership role.
If you want advice on how to find your next role or hire, get in touch - our team is here to help.
What does an Engineering Manager actually do?
An Engineering Manager in hardware, electronics, or embedded engineering sits at the intersection of people, process, and technical delivery.
While the exact responsibilities vary by company, most Engineering Manager roles include:
- Leading and developing a team of engineers
- Overseeing technical project delivery and timelines
- Supporting architecture and design decisions
- Hiring, onboarding, and mentoring engineers
- Managing performance and career development
- Acting as the bridge between engineering and stakeholders such as product, manufacturing, and commercial teams
Unlike a purely technical lead role, Engineering Managers are measured not only on what they deliver personally, but on how well their team performs.
How do you become an Engineering Manager?
This is one of the most searched questions among senior engineers. The move into management is less about seniority alone and more about demonstrated leadership behaviours.
Step 1. Start leading before you have the title
Companies promote engineers into management roles when they are already acting like leaders. This includes:
- Mentoring junior engineers
- Leading design reviews
- Taking ownership of project coordination
- Communicating with cross functional teams
- Supporting decision making, not just execution
If you want to move into management, start demonstrating people and delivery leadership in your current role.
Step 2. Develop communication and stakeholder skills
Engineering Managers spend a significant portion of their time communicating, often more than coding or designing.
You will need to confidently communicate with:
- Senior leadership
- Product or programme managers
- Manufacturing or production teams
- Customers or external partners
Engineers who can explain complex technical topics clearly and influence decisions are strong candidates for management.
Step 3. Show you understand delivery, not just design
A key difference between senior engineer and Engineering Manager roles is accountability for delivery.
Hiring managers look for people who understand:
- Project planning
- Resource allocation
- Risk management
- Balancing quality, time, and cost
You do not need formal project management training, but you do need evidence that you think beyond your own technical work.
What skills are most important for Engineering Manager jobs?
Engineering Manager roles require a blend of technical credibility and leadership capability.
Technical leadership
In hardware, electronics, and embedded teams, Engineering Managers are expected to understand the work at a high level. They do not need to design every circuit or write every line of firmware, but they should be able to:
- Review designs and challenge assumptions
- Support technical decision making
- Understand system level trade-offs
- Guide architecture discussions
Technical credibility builds trust with engineering teams.
People management
This is where many first-time managers face a learning curve. Core people management skills include:
- Coaching and mentoring
- Giving constructive feedback
- Handling performance issues
- Supporting career progression
- Building an inclusive and motivated team culture
Strong Engineering Managers focus on developing their team, not just directing it.
Delivery and operational skills
Engineering Managers are responsible for ensuring work moves forward effectively. This involves:
- Planning and prioritisation
- Removing blockers
- Managing dependencies
- Tracking progress
- Communicating risks early
In hardware and embedded environments, where timelines and integration points are critical, delivery leadership is especially important.
What are companies looking for when hiring an Engineering Manager?
From a hiring perspective, companies are increasingly selective when recruiting Engineering Managers. They are not just hiring the most senior engineer. They are hiring someone who can build and lead a high performing team.
Proven leadership experience
Even if you have not held the title before, hiring managers want to see:
- Examples of leading engineers
- Ownership of team or project outcomes
- Experience supporting others’ development
Leadership potential alone is rarely enough. Evidence matters.
Cross functional awareness
Engineering Managers must operate beyond the engineering function.
Employers value candidates who understand how engineering interacts with:
- Product development
- Supply chain
- Manufacturing
- Quality and compliance
- Commercial timelines
This is particularly important in electronics and hardware companies where engineering decisions directly affect cost and manufacturability.
Strong communication and influence
Technical skills get you considered. Communication and influence often get you hired.
Hiring managers look for leaders who can:
- Align teams around priorities
- Negotiate trade-offs
- Explain risks to non-technical stakeholders
- Represent engineering at a strategic level
These skills are often explored deeply during interviews.
How should you prepare for an Engineering Manager interview?
Engineering Manager interviews focus heavily on leadership behaviours and decision making.
Expect questions such as:
- Tell me about a time you dealt with a performance issue
- How do you prioritise when multiple projects are under pressure
- How do you handle conflict within a team
- How do you balance technical quality with deadlines
Strong candidates prepare structured examples that show:
- The situation
- The challenge
- The action they took
- The outcome
It is also important to demonstrate self-awareness. Interviewers want to see that you understand your leadership style and areas for growth.
How to show you are ready for an Engineering Manager role on your CV
Your CV should clearly highlight leadership and delivery impact, not just technical depth.
Good examples include:
- Led a team of X engineers to deliver a product release on time
- Mentored junior engineers, improving onboarding and performance
- Coordinated cross functional teams during system integration
- Managed technical risks and delivery timelines for complex projects
The key is to move beyond “responsible for” and show outcomes, influence, and team impact.
What does career progression look like after becoming an Engineering Manager?
Engineering Manager roles often lead to broader leadership positions such as:
- Head of Engineering
- Director of Engineering
- VP of Engineering
- Technical Programme Leadership roles
Some leaders choose to move further into people leadership, while others return to more technical paths such as Principal Engineer roles. The Engineering Manager position is often the key pivot point between individual contributor and organisational leadership.
Why Engineering Manager roles are more strategic than ever
Engineering Manager jobs in 2026 sit at the heart of successful engineering organisations. In hardware, electronics, and embedded environments, they are responsible for translating technical capability into reliable delivery and long term team growth.
For candidates, this means developing leadership, communication, and delivery skills alongside technical depth. For employers, it means hiring managers who can build strong teams, support complex development cycles, and connect engineering work to business outcomes.
At Platform Recruitment, we support engineering leaders and hiring teams across hardware, electronics, embedded systems, and advanced engineering sectors. Whether you are looking to step into your first Engineering Manager role or hire the right leadership talent for your team, our specialist insight can help you make the right move.
If you want advice on how to find your next role or hire, get in touch - our team is here to help.
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