Architectural and Engineering Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Engineering and Technology
- Administration and Management
- Design
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Building and Construction
- Computers and Electronics
- Personnel and Human Resources
A day in the life
You start the morning reviewing project timelines, budget reports, and change orders before your first meeting with engineering leads and architects to discuss design milestones and technical roadblocks. Your day is split between strategic planning sessions with clients or executives and tactical problem-solving with your team, where you approve design specs, allocate engineering resources, and make go or no-go decisions on prototype builds or construction phases. You spend time mentoring junior engineers, conducting performance reviews, and coordinating with procurement and contractors to keep projects on schedule. The role is deeply rewarding when a major project comes in on time and under budget, but the weight of accountability for both people and multimillion-dollar deliverables keeps the pressure constant.
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