What does a Director of Engineering do?
A Director of Engineering is responsible for the excellence of an engineering team, as well as growing and mentoring direct reports, and is considered a senior role within an organization. A Director of Engineering may also still have their own projects, and code or build systems alongside their team, but may also have additional responsibilities. These can include things like leading meetings with senior leadership, or the need to act as a stakeholder for other, large projects within the company.
How is a Director of Engineering different from other senior engineering roles?
A Director of Engineering is more senior than an Engineering Manager, but less senior than a Head of Engineering within a company’s organizational structure. In order to become a Director of Engineering, an engineer may need at least 7-10 years of experience in their field, with progressive responsibilities and past leadership experience.
A Director of Engineering may also differ from other senior engineering roles, like Senior Staff Engineers or Principal Engineers, because these roles are often individual contributor roles while a Director of Engineering is often responsible for direct reports.
A Director of Engineering may also differ from other senior engineering roles, like Senior Staff Engineers or Principal Engineers, because these roles are often individual contributor roles while a Director of Engineering is often responsible for direct reports.
What is a typical background of a Director of Engineering?
In addition to years of experience, Directors of Engineering may also have an advanced degree like a Master’s/PhD in a technical field or in business administration. They may also come from a background where they have experience with: