STEM professionals with the insights and expertise to lead teams of engineers are in demand for challenging, lucrative leadership roles in industries ranging from computer science to manufacturing.
“Hiring good engineering managers remains a challenge in the current economic and recruiting climate, but finding the right person for the role is worth the effort,” according to LeadDev. The “right person” brings not only technical proficiency to the role but also interpersonal, administrative and financial skills; social responsibility; and ethical values.
The Arkansas State University (A-State) online Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) program is an ideal way to acquire the technical background and business acumen necessary to guide projects to successful conclusions. The curriculum immerses students in the fundamentals of engineering management, financial analysis, project management and other subjects.
The online path to future-proofing your career also enables you to balance your studies with your home life. It allows you to keep working while learning, which can provide a dramatic increase in the return on your educational investment.
What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of Engineering Managers?
Graduates of the A-State online MSEM program have significant advantages, whether entering the workplace or competing for career advancement. Its curriculum equips them with the leadership and decision-making skills to successfully design, operate and complete complex projects. The role of engineering manager requires technical skills and proficiencies, such as the following:
- Project management. Project managers (PMs) plan projects, determine the scope of work to accomplish its business goals, assemble teams, set timelines, ensure the project is completed on time and within budget, and oversee post-project reviews.
- Technical leadership. Engineering managers provide guidance to build team members’ proficiency, sometimes acting as mentors on best practices, emerging technologies and innovating.
- Budget management. In a department or enterprise leadership role, managers ensure that financial resources are available to optimize utilization.
Effective engineering managers also possess well-honed people skills including communication, the ability to inspire and motivate, and emotional intelligence. Career engineering manager Karl Hughes spends 70% of a typical workday on technical and management issues and 30% on recruiting team members and administrative work. That breakout, he says, supports key duties such as empowering team members, ensuring teams understand their responsibilities and having contingency plans ready to go when Plan A goes awry.
Benefits of Earning an Advanced Engineering Management Degree Online
Flexibility, affordability and a high return on investment (ROI) are among the top reasons to consider enrolling in A-State’s online MSEM program. For instance, students work at their own pace to complete their degrees. They can rewatch recorded lectures and classroom sessions, re-read forum discussions and engage with materials.
The flexibility to schedule study time around work and family life is a key benefit, as well as the opportunity to continue working while enrolled. That can significantly boost the ROI on your educational investment, since earnings lost by quitting work to go back to school is a major opportunity cost.
Add it all up — low tuition, the flexibility to continue working while earning your degree, reduced debt load for students who borrow — and A-State returns an excellent ROI on credentials that open doors to the following leadership roles and average salaries (as of April 2024):
- Chief technology officer ($187,825)
- Engineering manager ($172,183)
- Head of engineering ($156,576)
The Education Data Initiative shares 2021 data on the 20-year and lifetime return on investment for a master’s degree: 90.1% and 433.5%, respectively. This promising outlook emphasizes the value of an advanced degree in any space, and professionals in the engineering management field can be confident in job security and lucrative salaries. For anyone looking for an affordable way to advance their career on their own schedule, A-State’s online MSEM program provides the perfect opportunity.
Learn more about A-State’s online Master of Science in Engineering Management program.