If you intend to earn an engineering degree, you may one day decide to pursue a role in leadership in engineering after gaining experience. What comes to mind when you think of a leader? Is it a high-powered CEO in a suit? Is it someone holding meetings and sharing feedback?

Depending on your industry, leadership can take many forms, but the core meaning of leader remains the same: someone who ensures their team has the necessary tools and support to reach their goals.

"Engineers typically see problems from all aspects — we are trained problem-solvers, [and] in a leadership position, [we] typically have the ability to make a decision based on data." 

— Dr. Michael De Gregorio, assistant dean of engineering at Grand Canyon University

Engineering leaders are typically experienced professionals who are responsible for making high-level decisions. They serve as knowledge resources, advocates for their team and strategic problem-solvers. Engineering leaders are also responsible for establishing a positive, supportive work culture that encourages innovation and continual professional development.

In the engineering field, leaders can hold many different job titles. They may continue to work on technical projects, serving as a source of expertise, guidance and mentorship for less experienced coworkers. Alternatively, they may focus on the business side of the engineering firm, such as managing projects and people.

As they gain experience, future engineering leaders also have opportunities to develop the soft skills that enable them to serve as impactful organizational decision-makers. Some of the most important engineering leadership skills include:^{(See disclaimer 1 )}

• Communication skills, including active listening
• Strategic thinking
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Emotional intelligence, including empathy
• Time management
• Project management

Since engineering leaders also work on building teams, they can benefit from conflict resolution skills, as well as the ability to mentor others and nurture their career growth.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

"Especially when going into management, communication and project management skills make better engineers." 

— Samantha Russell, director of interdisciplinary engineering and technology capstones at GCU

Leaders in the engineering field are the professionals who ensure that individual projects and teams are aligned with the organization’s overall strategic vision and long-term goals. Because of this, they help drive forward growth. A leader can also:

• Manage risk
• Encourage innovation
• Support team productivity
• Allocate resources wisely
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations and engineering standards

After gaining experience as an engineer, you may wish to consider the next step in your career. You can choose between pursuing technical leadership vs. management. It’s a choice between continuing to work directly on engineering projects or focusing on leading a team, managing projects and achieving the overall objectives of the organization.

Technical leaders in the engineering field will focus on deepening their technical expertise, assessing design documents and calculations and tackling complex challenges that other team members need assistance with. Engineering management, meanwhile, coordinates teams and projects, shapes long-term organizational strategy and works with executive leadership.

Both roles are important to the success of the organization. Choose your path based on your preferences, strengths and interests.

Although not everyone in engineering will become a manager or other leader, engineers who are on a team will likely, at some point, take the initiative to make sure a project is completed, which is important to the team’s success. Each person has a unique set of skills that they can contribute to reach the desired goal of the project. No one person has all the answers, and providing feedback and collaborating with others can lead to the creation of the best possible product, tool or plan.

Engineering Capstone Projects

To help build collaboration skills, every student in a Grand Canyon University engineering program participates in a capstone project during their senior year. Capstone preparations begin at the end of junior year as you take a project management class that integrates project planning and layout with the development of a proposal in groups or in conjunction with an industry partner. Your group is then assigned a proposal and a faculty mentor to guide you throughout your senior year capstone.

Throughout the year, you will follow all the steps of project execution, such as preparing weekly reports and holding meetings with your faculty mentor. You will also prepare a budget, develop prototypes and test your prototypes, as well as prepare progress update presentations to faculty for constructive feedback.

All the engineering and business components of the capstone are meant to mimic industry collaboration. Capstone teams are selected to create a balance among each person’s skills to successfully complete the project. As higher-level courses tend to become more specialized and limit interactions, capstone groups bring back some of the community that was found in the combined core classes of the engineering programs. Within the team, group members self-appoint roles to manage their finances, planning and other specialties, ensuring that they deliver their final product as requested.

Entering management is one way to become an engineering leader, but it’s certainly not the only path. Engineers can step into leadership roles by virtue of their work ethic, dedication and commitment to professional development. You may also serve as a leader by mentoring less experienced coworkers.

Consider the difference between technical leadership vs. management. Technical leads and senior engineers can serve as leaders, mentors and advocates for high standards, even if they choose not to pursue a managerial role. There are many paths in engineering, making this a suitable field for people with different goals, strengths and work preferences.

If you’re interested in pursuing a role in leadership in engineering, such as a managerial role, you might consider one of the following positions:

Project Manager

A project manager, or project engineer, who works in the engineering field, oversees a project through its life cycle. They plan the scope of the project, create work schedules, assign teams and monitor the progress of the project.

General and Operations Manager

A general and operations manager plans and coordinates the daily activities of an organization. Their job may include allocating resources, reviewing budgets and performance indicators and directing administrative activities.

Construction Manager

A construction manager is responsible for planning and coordinating a construction project from start to finish. They may prepare cost estimates and budgets, collaborate with specialists, manage subcontractors and monitor the progress of the project.

Facilities Manager

A facilities manager oversees the teams handling the maintenance and repair of commercial buildings. They schedule staff, manage third-party service providers, maintain records and inspect the grounds and buildings to ensure they meet health and safety codes.

Industrial Production Manager

An industrial production manager is tasked with overseeing the daily operations of plants, such as manufacturing plants. They are responsible for meeting production quotas, staying within budget and ensuring compliance with safety requirements.

Architectural and Engineering Manager

An architectural and engineering manager is responsible for planning and overseeing projects and activities. They may handle everything from budgeting and hiring for a project to overseeing the quality of the work.

At GCU, students are encouraged to interact and network with industry professionals through career fairs, industry panels, internships and more. Additionally, collaboration is key between the Colangelo College of Business and the College of Engineering and Technology students. These colleges encourage business students and engineering students to pair up, use the engineering labs and build prototypes together. The focus on collaboration and developing professionalism can set the stage for developing leadership skills later on.

Preparation for leadership begins in the classroom. You can get started today by applying for enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Studies with an Emphasis in Engineering Management degree program, followed by the Master of Science in Engineering Management program.