Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
(OP)
I apologize for a long winded post, but I wanted to provide as much information, I could. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
All,
I have personally benefited a lot from this forum in last 9-10 years of my engineering career. However, now I am at a cross road in my career. Your advice based on your experiences will help me a lot between Chief Engineer / Systems Engineer role and a NON-technical Project Manager role.
A little background on me
BS - Mechanical Engineering 2001
MS - Mechanical Engineering 2003
MBA - Finance and Marketing 2012
Current Job Title - Staff Mechanical Engineer (Medical Device Industry)
Aspirations: Leading a Product Development Company in 20-25 years from now.
I have had a decent career with increasing roles and responsibilities in mechanical engineering (new product Development) for last 9 years, of which last 6 years in Medical Devices. After 9 years, I personally feel I should diversify my skill set and move beyond just Mechanical Design.
My current company is going through major reogranization with significant changes in departments and overall work culture. My current department Head (Lets call him Mr. X) personally asked for my interest in a new role in new organization. He offered two choices, a chief engineer/systems engineer role (purely technical but with mechanical, electrical and Software exposure) and a Project Manager role (more commercial and no technical). Given my background and interest in Project Management, Mr. X was more inclined in me picking chief engineer/systems engineer role and then get into Technical Project Manager role (different from what is currently offered). He presented all the good points of the Chief Engineer's / systems engineer's role and why current open PM role may not be appropriate for me. Towards the end of discussion, he mentioned that should I consider Chief Engineer role, I should stay in that role for maximum 2-3 years and then move into Techanical Project Manager role. As I was about to leave, he did also mention that I should not loose on an opportunity just waiting for a perfect opening.
Given my background, inkling to utilize my skill set learnt in B-school and long term goal, I am confused as to what I should be doing. Yes money is a big factor, but I do not anticipate too much variation (+/- $5-10K) between a Chief Engineer role or current PM role opening. One option leads me deep in technical role and other option opens up my skill set. I am not afraid of challenge but it appears my department head thinks that I might face too many challenges. At the same time, I dont want to take a path without having your input based on your experiences and regret later.
Your insight will greatly help.
Lonecrusader
All,
I have personally benefited a lot from this forum in last 9-10 years of my engineering career. However, now I am at a cross road in my career. Your advice based on your experiences will help me a lot between Chief Engineer / Systems Engineer role and a NON-technical Project Manager role.
A little background on me
BS - Mechanical Engineering 2001
MS - Mechanical Engineering 2003
MBA - Finance and Marketing 2012
Current Job Title - Staff Mechanical Engineer (Medical Device Industry)
Aspirations: Leading a Product Development Company in 20-25 years from now.
I have had a decent career with increasing roles and responsibilities in mechanical engineering (new product Development) for last 9 years, of which last 6 years in Medical Devices. After 9 years, I personally feel I should diversify my skill set and move beyond just Mechanical Design.
My current company is going through major reogranization with significant changes in departments and overall work culture. My current department Head (Lets call him Mr. X) personally asked for my interest in a new role in new organization. He offered two choices, a chief engineer/systems engineer role (purely technical but with mechanical, electrical and Software exposure) and a Project Manager role (more commercial and no technical). Given my background and interest in Project Management, Mr. X was more inclined in me picking chief engineer/systems engineer role and then get into Technical Project Manager role (different from what is currently offered). He presented all the good points of the Chief Engineer's / systems engineer's role and why current open PM role may not be appropriate for me. Towards the end of discussion, he mentioned that should I consider Chief Engineer role, I should stay in that role for maximum 2-3 years and then move into Techanical Project Manager role. As I was about to leave, he did also mention that I should not loose on an opportunity just waiting for a perfect opening.
Given my background, inkling to utilize my skill set learnt in B-school and long term goal, I am confused as to what I should be doing. Yes money is a big factor, but I do not anticipate too much variation (+/- $5-10K) between a Chief Engineer role or current PM role opening. One option leads me deep in technical role and other option opens up my skill set. I am not afraid of challenge but it appears my department head thinks that I might face too many challenges. At the same time, I dont want to take a path without having your input based on your experiences and regret later.
Your insight will greatly help.
Lonecrusader





RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
Just my $.02 worth
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
Hence my dilemma. Stay with stability of engineering role or take risk for presumably a shot to faster career advance.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
The way I read what's not there, he knows for a fact that you will regret taking the Project Management role, possibly because you're not prepared for it, or more likely IMHO, he knows it will blow up in your face for reasons that are external to you.
As a member of Management, he absolutely cannot reveal those reasons, or anything else that you aren't supposed to know.
That was the worst part of my own short stint as a manager; all the shit that I had to conceal from my team. Do they teach you how to deal with that in business school?
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
They did give us bathroom breaks in business school! Does that count? :)
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
The more I am thinking the more I am getting confused.
PS: In B-School they taught me every thing that can be analyzed along with little bit corporate politics. More confusion.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
Be grateful for his mentoring.
Oh.
Be very wary, but respectful, of the intervening layers.
If they think you are in regular contact with Mr. X, they will resent it.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
" Oh, enjoy these times, Geordi. You're the Chief Engineer of a starship; and that's a time of your life that'll never come again. When it's gone - it's gone. "
Program Managers come and go, but a good engineer is difficult to replace. If you step away from a technical role it doesn't take long to fall behind the curve and you'll be limited to program manager roles along with 100s of others...
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
Just my .02, but if you're looking to run a company some day, you need as much diversified experience as possible.
V
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
These are some really good insights. Thanks a lot for your suggestions. It appears, its better to stick with engineering role for now rather than jump to PM role right away. I will be careful of intervening layers. It is rarely that I talk to Mr. X. So when he called me to discuss next career move I was surprised myself. But I will be cautious in future of such discussions.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
Did you always remain in a technical role in some way or form as a Project Manager? Did you have a stint away from PM role before coming back to engineering?
And yes I do want to run a company some day and I have been requesting (almost begging) my managers to provide me opportunities to work with different departments such as finance, marketing, legal so that I can get a broader perspective of medical device industry.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
On the other hand, project manager or program manager roles can sometimes be doled out to those who have great managing skills, but without an adequate technical understanding of what they are managing, can lead quickly to miscommunications within the team or externally to the customer, causing both delays and budget overruns. In my experience, Project Managers who treat engineers as only assets required to get the job done, without fully understanding the job itself or the problems the engineers will run into, can be difficult to work with. The more you start on the PM-only role right now, the more you'll be stuck there later on.
If I was in your shoes and I had to choose between the two positions, I would certainly choose the chief engineer position. You'll improve your project management skills considerably while retaining the technical edge - this also lets you interface between the company leaders and the engineer workers better. In the long run, I see that as being more important to the success of the company than purely project managing. But, I have to add a disclaimer - I've got less experience than you, and all in a relatively small company. I have, however, worked for both chief engineers and project managers, and much prefer the former than the latter.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
As a PM, I was as far away from an engineer as I've ever been in my career. I was chasing down parts, running status meetings, badgering engineering to finish designs. That being said, I believe my engineering background gave me a better understanding of how to tackle schedules, deliverables, etc.
After being a PM for a few years, I went directly back into engineering as a program manager.
I had a boss (whom I respect very much) that said it to me this way, "If you want to run your own company some day, you need to have held (important) jobs in engineering, operations and marketing/sales. This way, no matter what problems may arise, you have a background in solving them."
V
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
I think your boss gave you spot-on advice.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
Your boss gave a very good advice. Yes I do intend to run a company in future. I believe, this advice will go a long way.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
In the marketing roles I have served in, I always am more drawn to the particulars of the design questions than to the details of scheduling, costing, contract language, etc. Somebody has to handle that stuff, and its best if they enjoy doing it. I noticed something interesting a few years back. I have worked for a lot of managers, many of them ex-engineers. It has amazed me how they have been able to divorce themselves from the design details of projects, and freely just turn that part over to me. I know if I were in their shoes I could not do that. I would be thinking over some interesting design problem on the way home. They weren't doing that. To me, that the difference.
I have had several positions where my major responsibilities were things other than engineering. Without fail, every time I have moved back into a more detailed engineering position, I have figuratively breathed a deep sigh of relief - "Ahh, home at last." I simply cannot understand how someone who supposedly loves engineering can divorce themselves from it forever. But I am definitely glad that some can. And I would much rather work for an ex-engineer than a marketing or accounting type. If you think you can happily give the design details of a project no more attention than all the other details a manager has responsibility for, then maybe you are built for management.
Also, don't forget - nothing is forever. You will probably have to spend a few years working in different arenas to know for sure where you are happiest. After all, the only reason I can state with such certainty which areas I am happiest in is that I have actually worked in those other areas. If I had not done that, I would not know. Keep a long term view, but don't be afraid to try new things.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
regardless, good luck!
-pmover
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
An update in my situatuion. Yesterday my manager (reports to Mr. X) called me to his office to pitch the Chief Engineer /Systems Engineer role. He said that there is shortage of such people in the company and due to hiring freeze we will try to fill internally. He also mentioned that there is no pressure and I can continue in my current role should I choose to do so.
I did ask about PM role and his exact words were
"I will say it once and not repeat again. That PM role with business needs and the way company is going is not the right choice now. This particular position may or may not last long. systems engineer role should be there but dont think it to be a short term gig. If you decide, You will be transferred into that group. Choice is yours. You can continue as Mechanical Engineer and we will be fine"
After hearing this and all the advices above, I think one thing is clear, I have to broaden my scope and move beyond just ME roles. Which I anyway wanted. With systems role the negative I see is my limited chance of getting business exposure and non utilization of MBA degree. However the advantage with Systems Engineer Role will be more exposure to medical devices and subject matter, such as regulatory, some marketing, customers, and above all processes in this FDA regulated environment for devices.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
As I've always worked the mechanical/engineering side of things, I cannot give you advice about PM role. Working on my own part-time forces me however to undertake a shot at it.
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
If you want to stay with the company, either take the Chief Engineer job or stay in your current position. However, if you turn down this promotion, I wouldn't expect any "opportunities" to open up in the future at this company.
Otherwise, if you have to go into PM, you'll probably have to go elsewhere.
But, maybe that's just the coffee talking...
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
I asked around within the company with few trusted sources. It appears, there is a dire need for few Chief Engineers / Systems Engineer and hence apparent push. It appears general perception is Project Managers come Dime a Dozen and one bad project (for whatever reason - even beyond control), as PM, can banish the individual to that position/title with the company forever. In other words upward movement is next to impossible. However, at the same time most of the current Directors have risen up through PM roles. On the flip side systems engineers have been at the same title / role for 7-10 years, even after successful projects. There seems to be a cieling / plateau. Part of it could be content and satisfaction with job. I dont know!
I could potentially say yes to Systems role, do it for few years (say 2-3 years) and then again try to push for management role with increased cross functional knowledge base (that I may be lacking due to my current Mechanical Engineer role). The positive I see is if and when I lead teams, I will have much broader knowledge and experience and can appreciate interdependencies and engineering pitfalls. On the flip side, as time progresses will a Chief Engineer / SYstems Engineer role take me out of consideration from a PM/director role in other medical device companies?
RE: Choice between Chief Engineer or Project Manager (non Technical)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?