Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
(OP)
I currently work as the most senior engineer in a small OEM company. What would be an appropriate title for the role?
When I started I was the sole engineer, taking over from the 'Technical Director' who has sold back his shares and retired, I now have two engineers working under me as the company has grown. On starting and with limited guidance from the company I gave myself the title of 'Principal Engineer' for use on my email signature etc, as balance between being able to appear significantly senior, without making to too obvious how small the company was at times where I was covering what would otherwise be a far more junior role. I predominately oversee and evolve myself in design and development of new and existing products and product attachments, however given the size of the company also cover quality control, technical support, supplier expediting and anything else which needs an engineering hand.
18 months on the have finally issued me with a contract, and I wonder if this self-styled title is the correct one to use on the contract. Might be a minor detail, but I would like it to be right if it can be.
Thanks
Daniel
When I started I was the sole engineer, taking over from the 'Technical Director' who has sold back his shares and retired, I now have two engineers working under me as the company has grown. On starting and with limited guidance from the company I gave myself the title of 'Principal Engineer' for use on my email signature etc, as balance between being able to appear significantly senior, without making to too obvious how small the company was at times where I was covering what would otherwise be a far more junior role. I predominately oversee and evolve myself in design and development of new and existing products and product attachments, however given the size of the company also cover quality control, technical support, supplier expediting and anything else which needs an engineering hand.
18 months on the have finally issued me with a contract, and I wonder if this self-styled title is the correct one to use on the contract. Might be a minor detail, but I would like it to be right if it can be.
Thanks
Daniel





RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
I'm sure its use may vary from country to country.
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RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
Should have said, I am based in the UK, in England.
Daniel
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
Principal Engineer sounds fine to me.
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
A.
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
I worked many years for an international consulting firm and our "pecking order" was "Engineer", "Senior Engineer", "Principal Engineer", "Chief Engineer" and Corporate Consultant (later renamed to Senior Principal. The King of the Hill was the Director of Engineering. The technical titles did not bestow corporate officer status; however, many of us at very senior levels (Chief Engineer, Senior Principal)were also corporate officers. Starting at the Principal Engineer level, the engineer had to pass a technical review board for each succeeding level.
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
I should have said 'American-owned UK consultant power engineering firm' - sounds like our hierarchy followed Ron's very closely.
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
With all due respect to Managers.
Sorry about my incompetence in helping the OP with their query - best of luck in finding the title that suits best.
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
Yeah, I can emphasise with that too. I am really enjoying the challenge of being more senior, having people to do the leg work, and I still get to do bits of CAD work which was starting to decrease in my role within the larger company which I was actually ok with, but equally it was really nice having at least one engineer above you or along side you. Feels quite exposed here, with a chasm between me and the MD who is very much a salesman mindset rather than any engineering understanding. Still, challenge is good sometimes, everyone here is nice enough, pays the bills!
Daniel
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
Engineering manager on the other hand is the boss of the engineering dept. The eng manager is not supposed to design anything, not on my planet.
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
In the larger companies (Raytheon, Lockheed, KeyW, Northrup, etc.), Principal is a title of seniority, not ownership. In fact, the only time I've seen "Principal" to mean "owner" is in small, sub-100 people companies.
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
Seems the best title would have simply been "Engineer" when it was just you. Now, "Senior Engineer", "Engineering Manager" or "Principal Engineer" would be okay. Principal implies ownership, but I've learned that it could mean little of nothing - especially at large companies. Decision makers in companies are pretty wise to all this jargon, so I'd just stick with a title that seems accurate. "Engineering Department Manager" sounds like what you are. Inflating your title will not gain you respect.
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
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RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
I also wouldn't recommend over-titling yourself. If you are only over a small engineering team you are simply an engineering manager. Anything more is unethical as its falsely representing yourself and your company, and is a great way to lose potential customers and job prospects elsewhere.
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
Sounds like both "Senior Engineer" or "Principal Engineer" are reasonably acceptable and suitably understood, in the UK and further afield.
Thanks all.
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
I have not and do not work for Gibb, no.
Daniel
RE: Correct title? Principal engineer / Head engineer / Engineering Manager
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com