The engineering manager plans, coordinates, and directs activities in engineering, including research and development. This person leads a team of engineers to specify, design, analyzes and verifies new components and systems. Engineering managers work with the manufacturing engineers to develop component suppliers, part quality requirements and assembly and test procedures. The manager leads the design control and RCA processes, as well as resource planning and skills development for their team.  An engineering manager is also responsible for managing teams that support sales with technical experts for proposals, contracts, and customer visits.

Engineering managers typically do the following:

• Make detailed resource plans and schedules to reach technical goals, such as development of new products and designs
• Manage research and development teams that produce new products, processes, or designs, or improve existing ones
• Check the technical accuracy of the work and soundness of the methods their staff uses
• Direct and coordinate the design of equipment and machinery
• Confer with other levels of management on engineering activities
• Propose budgets for projects and programs and determine staff, training, and equipment needs
• Hire, assign, and supervise staff.

Engineering managers use their knowledge in engineering to oversee a variety of activities. They determine technical goals, such as improving manufacturing processes, or developing new products or design improvements, and then they make detailed plans to accomplish these goals. They may provide resource support to the operations, quality assurance, testing or maintenance organizations.

Engineering managers must know how to budget, hire, and supervise. They propose budgets for projects and programs and determine staff, training, and equipment needs.

Engineering managers hire and assign people to carry out specific parts of each project. They supervise the work of these employees and set administrative procedures, policies, or standards, such as environmental standards.

• Analytical skills. Engineering managers should be able to evaluate information and solve complex problems.
• Communication skills. Engineering managers oversee staff and confer with other levels of management. They must be able to communicate well to lead teams in meeting goals. 
• Detail oriented. Engineering managers must pay attention to detail. Their duties require an understanding of complex systems, and a minor error can cause major problems.
• Organizational skills. Engineering managers keep track of many workers, schedules, and budgets all at once.
• Technical skills. Managers in these fields must thoroughly understand the specific area that they are managing.

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Engineering Manager