In my experience, it is preferable for a manager to be someone who has come from a similar background or even better yet, has been in the shoes of the engineer. Specifically in manufacturing medical devices, a manager with only a business and leadership background will not entirely understand what an engineer’s concerns are for a project. This manager might not see the importance of bio-compatibility testing and FDA regulations as much as they care for the money making aspect and the business climate of the product market. Where an engineer is concerned about the mechanical soundness of the product, a manager with no background might just be concerned with meeting a deadline.

If a manager is well versed in medicine or engineering or both, there will be a more pleasantly symbiotic relationship. The engineer should always feel comfortable voicing their opinions and even further, should feel confident that their manager will act on the advice that they gave. In my workplace, my current manager was once an engineer that climbed the ranks. With this experience, they understand where the engineer is coming from and will respect them in every aspect of the project cycle.