Long-term, I would hope to go into a management role, but right out of school, I would prefer to work in a more technical role. Through working in a technical role, it gives an individual the opportunity to grow in their technical abilities as well as learn valuable skills that can be applied to management roles in the future. Growing in technical abilities is particularly important if the management position is in the same industry. For example, if an individual works within a manufacturing department in a medical device company and then moves into a project management role within a different medical device, they will be able to lead the team effectively as a result of their experience. That individual will have a good understanding of how medical devices are developed and the timeline required, which will allow for a good project plan to be put in place. They will understand what the project team will need to succeed since they would have been in the position of the members of the team. Additionally, within a technical role, an individual can learn other, non-technical skills such as better communication skills, how to work effectively with different individuals, as well as gain exposure on leading teams and projects. 

I work as an analyst in a manufacturing company that specializes in flavors and fragrances. For me, having a sense of what is going on in the lab is important. Being an engineer/analyst/tech first will be ideal so you can better understand your team. You need some hands on the project so you can be a leader and not just a boss. That way any issue relating to the manufacturing process that might occur could be easily fixed. 

I am starting to gain more interest in the management side of engineering. However, I would like to begin my career as an engineer first. I think it’s important to build real experience before moving into management because it will help me better understand the technical side and what each process is like, including the time and work it takes to complete tasks. Throughout this semester, I learned that managing projects isn’t just about meeting deadlines, it’s about understanding the work behind each step.

I would want to begin as an Engineer, and then move up to a manager role. As an Engineer, I'd begin to gain experience working with others on a team to complete a project. After gaining experience and project management skills, I would then want to contribute my skills as a project manager. I enjoy the technical side more today, but in the future, I would also challenge myself to lead and manage a team to complete a project as a manager. Eventually, either position would be a learning experience for me.

As someone who is currently starting in the industry, I prefer the role of the engineer. I have little work experience, and thus am unfamiliar with the work environment and its dynamics. Along with this, a majority of my skills come from an academia setting, which would likely need to be re-learned to fit work tasks instead. Along with this, we have learned a lot this semester about project management, but experience is the best teacher. Project management and the practice of these skills are still very prominent in the engineering role, and typically are smaller scale than when in a management role. This makes the engineer role a great introduction to practicing these skills.  My question however, when do you feel like you would be ready to become a manager? What metric would you use?

Throughout this semester in BME 682, we explored various subjects related to industry stages, project creation, and adhering to deadlines. These topics definitely significantly assisted me in considering my future direction. To answer your question, if I had a choice, I would begin in an engineering or technical position as I believe that establishing a solid foundation in the technical elements of my area is really important. But like you, I can see myself moving into a management position within the next 5–7 years. I think true leadership stems from having direct experience with the technical difficulties your team encounters. During my time shadowing a project coordinator, I acquired essential skills in communication and leadership. This made me realize how vital it is to manage both the technical aspects and interpersonal relationships of a project. In the long run, I am enthusiastic about guiding teams while also creating a greater impact across projects and organizations.

Given the choice, I’d begin as a hands-on engineer and pivot into management after three to five years. Starting on the technical front line builds hard-won credibility: when you’ve debugged a flaky sensor bus at 2 a.m. or watched a design freeze stall over an overlooked ISO clause, later budget and risk calls are anchored in lived detail. Those war stories earn instant respect from the teams you’ll eventually lead and sharpen your negotiating edge with suppliers or auditors. Once that foundation is laid, moving into management multiplies impact—you stop perfecting one algorithm and start orchestrating ten people so their subsystems fit seamlessly at V-&-V. I tasted that leverage while moon-lighting as the de-facto project manager on a stroke-rehab sleeve: unblocking procurement and reallocating hours felt as rewarding as getting the firmware to compile. That blend—deep technical roots followed by strategic, team-empowering leadership—is where I see the most sustainable and satisfying career trajectory.

This question truly depends on the individual and their skillset. Certain people have the skills of managing people and being a good leader, while others do not. This kind of person, along with a team, would greatly benefit from this person. Other people, who do not have leadership and communication skills may prefer to stay in an engineering position. Of course, one is not definitely better than the other. One may argue that management roles may have better compensation, but to some people, this does not matter. Management roles are involved in higher level conversations and discussions that may seem daunting to the engineer. However, each role requires time to get acclimated to, and both positions require a similar skillset in a strong work ethic.

I think this is a great point of discussion. I find myself asking this a lot. I think both roles require a different skillset. Engineers/scientists require more technical knowledge and working with different softwares. Project managers require more poeple skills, communication, leadership, and financial knowledge. I would prefer to stay in a more technical role when I start working in industry. I would then later on want to move towards a more hybrid role where I am still involved in technical work but also manage the timeline of the project and lead other members. I don't think I would prefer an entirely project management role.