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Careers with an MEM Degree
When you earn your master’s in engineering management from WashU, you'll be on track for a rewarding future. Explore careers within engineering management.
Careers With a Degree in Engineering Management
What Careers Can I Get with an Engineering Management Degree?
In today’s competitive marketplace, companies are increasingly looking for engineers who can solve complex business problems and collaborate across teams. This has led to a growing demand for highly skilled engineering management professionals. There is now a broad range of jobs in engineering management:
- Engineering managers oversee the work of engineers and other technical staff. They are responsible for planning, organizing and directing engineering projects. They also work with other departments to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.
- Product managers are responsible for developing and launching new products. They work with engineers, designers and marketing professionals to create products that meet customers’ needs.
- Project managers are responsible for the planning, execution and completion of projects. They work with a variety of stakeholders to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
These positions are just a small sample of the many engineering management jobs available. The remainder of this article will describe the skills you can gain in a school for engineering and explain how those abilities could translate into challenging and in-demand career opportunities.
What to look for in a school for engineeringIf these jobs in engineering management appeal to you, you may want to consider an advanced degree from a school for engineering. As you research programs, you’ll want to ensure the institution you attend will allow you to cultivate the business and soft skills required to succeed in engineering management jobs. Other important considerations include:
- Curriculum: Are a wide range of topics, including engineering principles, management theory and business skills included?
- Faculty: Are the faculty experienced engineers and management professionals with a strong commitment to teaching?
- Research and hands-on learning opportunities: Can you participate in research or hands-on learning projects? These opportunities can help you gain valuable experience and learn about current trends in engineering and management.
- Industry partnerships: Does the institution have strong relationships with industry partners? These partnerships can help you find internships and jobs after graduation.
- Location: Are classes offered online and on campus? Are there successful organizations located in the school’s region?
What Skills Do I Need for Engineering Management Jobs?
When you attend a school for engineering management, such as the Sever Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, you’ll be equipped to lead your organization into the future. Through our program, you will build upon your technical engineering background with skills in business analysis, finance, marketing and strategy.
Soft skills for engineering management jobsAlong with business acumen across disciplines, jobs in engineering management require:
- Leadership: You must be able to instill and sustain motivation in teams by articulating clear goals, delegating tasks and providing feedback. You should also be able to forge strong relationships with your team members.
- Communication: You will need to be able to converse effectively with a variety of audiences, including engineers, managers and clients. You should be able to compose and deliver technical information concisely.
- Problem-solving: You need to be able to identify and solve problems, think critically and creatively, and devise innovative solutions.
- Decision-making: You need to be able to make decisions quickly and confidently by weighing the pros and cons of different options. You should also be able to make decisions that are in the best interests of the company.
- Teamwork: You need to be able to collaborate effectively with others and cooperate with team members to resolve conflicts and build consensus.
- Adaptability: You must be able to adjust to change, handle unexpected challenges and modify plans as needed.
At the Sever Institute, we offer the “engineer’s MBA.” You will gain business acumen across disciplines so that you can see the big picture of how organizations succeed. We will also train you to make critical decisions based on data and people and to collaborate with others across your organization.
Rigor and Relevance
Are you ready to take the next step in your career at an industry-connected institution that offers student-centered, project-base learning? Washington University in St. Louis offers courses online and on campus, in a region surrounded by successful cutting-edge organizations.