Engineering Management Levels

Skipped

The engineering leadership ladder begins with EM0, a role for engineers transitioning into leadership. From there, one can progress to senior Engineering Manager, followed by director of engineering, vice president of engineering, and ultimately CTO. While job titles may vary across companies, the management structure outlined in this lesson remains largely consistent.

EM0

EM0 is an uncommon role, and not many companies have it. It primarily serves as a transitional role for individual contributors moving into engineering management. That is why EM0s are sometimes also referred to as entry-level managers.

Engineering Managers at this level usually manage a small team of three to five people while still dedicating half of their time to technical tasks. This provides the company’s senior management with an early opportunity to gauge the leadership capabilities of potential Engineering Managers.

Note: EM0s are typically not hired from outside the company. The role is used for transitional purposes.

EM1

EM1s form the backbone of a company’s engineering efforts and are recognized as key drivers in executing strategic goals and delivering impactful results. They are sometimes referred to as line managers and work closely with the engineering team. EM1s are responsible for both the success and health of the team.

Additionally, they are involved in hiring and onboarding new team members, collecting and delivering feedback, and doing performance reviews.