Engineering & Natural Science Managers

Engineering & Natural Sciences Managers

Did you know that in 2000, nearly 3 out of 10 engineering managers worked in services industries, primarily for firms providing computer and data processing, engineering and architectural, or research and testing services? And another third were employed by manufacturing industries? How can you take your engineering experience to a higher level on your career path? What career education might you need to attain an administrative position? Find answers to these questions and more in the career information presented here.

Learn more in the career education information listed below:

Overview

• Most engineering and natural sciences managers have previous experience as engineers, scientists, or mathematicians.
• Employers prefer managers with advanced technical knowledge and strong communication and administrative skills.

Job Description

Engineering and natural sciences managers plan, coordinate, and direct research, design, and production activities. They may supervise engineers, scientists, and technicians, along with support personnel. These managers use advanced technical knowledge of engineering and science to oversee a variety of activities. They determine scientific and technical goals within broad outlines provided by top executives, who are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook. These goals may include improving manufacturing processes, advancing scientific research, or redesigning aircraft. Managers make detailed plans to accomplish these goals - for example, they may develop the overall concepts of a new product or identify technical problems preventing the completion of a project.

To perform effectively, they also must possess knowledge of administrative procedures, such as budgeting, hiring, and supervision. These managers propose budgets for projects and programs and determine staff, training, and equipment purchases. They hire and assign scientists, engineers, and support personnel to carry out specific parts of each project. They also supervise the work of these employees, review their output, and establish administrative procedures and policies - including environmental standards, for example.

In addition, these managers use communication skills extensively. They spend a great deal of time coordinating the activities of their unit with those of other units or organizations. They confer with higher levels of management; with financial, production, marketing, and other managers; and with contractors and equipment and materials suppliers.

Engineering managers supervise people who design and develop machinery, products, systems, and processes; or direct and coordinate production, operations, quality assurance, testing, or maintenance in industrial plants. Many are plant engineers, who direct and coordinate the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and machinery in industrial plants. Others manage research and development teams that produce new products and processes or improve existing ones.

Natural sciences managers oversee the work of life and physical scientists, including agricultural scientists, chemists, biologists, geologists, medical scientists, and physicists. These managers direct research and development projects and coordinate activities such as testing, quality control, and production. They may work on basic research projects or on commercial activities. Science managers sometimes conduct their own research in addition to managing the work of others.

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Working Conditions

Engineering and natural sciences managers spend most of their time in an office. Some managers, however, also may work in laboratories, where they may be exposed to the same conditions as research scientists, or in industrial plants, where they may be exposed to the same conditions as production workers. Most managers work at least 40 hours a week and may work much longer on occasion to meet project deadlines. Some may experience considerable pressure to meet technical or scientific goals on a short deadline or within a tight budget.

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Employment

Engineering and natural sciences managers held about 324,000 jobs in 2000. Nearly 3 out of 10 worked in services industries, primarily for firms providing computer and data processing, engineering and architectural, or research and testing services. Manufacturing industries employed one-third. Manufacturing industries with the largest employment include those producing industrial machinery and equipment, electronic and other electrical equipment, transportation equipment, instruments, and chemicals. Other large employers include government agencies and transportation, communications, and utilities companies.

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Education, Training & Qualifications

Strong technical knowledge is essential for engineering and natural sciences managers, who must understand and guide the work of their subordinates and explain the work in nontechnical terms to senior management and potential customers. Therefore, these management positions usually require work experience and formal education similar to that of engineers, scientists, or mathematicians.

Most engineering managers begin their careers as engineers, after completing a bachelor's degree in the field. To advance to higher level positions, engineers generally must assume management responsibility. To fill management positions, employers seek engineers who possess administrative and communications skills in addition to technical knowledge in their specialty. Many engineers gain these skills by obtaining a master's degree in engineering management or a master's degree in business administration (MBA). Employers often pay for such training. In large firms, some courses required in these degree programs may be offered onsite. engineers who prefer to manage in technical areas should get a master's degree in engineering management, while those interested in nontechnical management should get an MBA.

Many science managers begin their careers as scientists, such as chemists, biologists, geologists, or mathematicians. Most scientists or mathematicians engaged in basic research have a Ph.D.; some in applied research and other activities may have a bachelor's or master's degree. Science managers must be specialists in the work they supervise. In addition, employers prefer managers with good communication and administrative skills. Graduate programs allow scientists to augment their undergraduate training with instruction in other fields, such as management or computer technology. Given the rapid pace of scientific developments, science managers must continuously upgrade their knowledge.

Engineering and natural sciences managers may advance to progressively higher leadership positions within their discipline. Some may become managers in nontechnical areas such as marketing, human resources, or sales. In high technology firms, managers in nontechnical areas often must possess the same specialized knowledge as managers in technical areas. For example, employers in an engineering firm may prefer to hire experienced engineers as sales workers because the complex services offered by the firm can be marketed only by someone with specialized engineering knowledge.

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Job Outlook

Employment of engineering and natural sciences managers is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2010in line with projected employment growth in engineering and most sciences. However, many additional jobs will result from the need to replace managers who retire or move into other occupations. Opportunities for obtaining a management position will be best for workers with advanced technical knowledge and strong communication and administrative skills.

The job outlook for engineering and natural sciences managers should be closely related to the growth of the occupations they supervise and the industries in which they are found. For example, opportunities for managers should be better in rapidly growing areas of engineering, such as electrical, computer, and biomedical engineering than in more slowly growing areas of engineering or physical science. In addition, many employers are finding it more efficient to contract engineering and science management services to outside companies and consultants, creating good opportunities for managers in management services and management consulting firms.

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Salary Expectations

Earnings for engineering and natural sciences managers vary by specialty and level of responsibility. Median annual earnings of engineering managers were $84,070 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $66,420 and $105,630. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $52,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $130,350. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of engineering managers in 2000 were:

• Electronic components and accessories $98,940
• Computer and data processing services $98,890
• Aircraft and parts $88,620
• Federal government $83,840
• Engineering and architectural services $83,390

Median annual earnings of natural sciences managers were $75,880 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $56,320 and $100,760. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $43,110, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $128,090. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of natural sciences managers in 2000 were:

• Research and testing services $87,070
• Federal government $74,780

A survey of manufacturing firms, conducted by Abbot, Langer & Associates, found that engineering department managers and superintendents earned a median annual income of $85,154 in 1999, while research and development managers earned $84,382.

In addition, engineering and natural sciences managers, especially those at higher levels, often receive more benefits - such as expense accounts, stock option plans, and bonuses - than do nonmanagerial workers in their organizations.

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Related Occupations

The work of engineering and natural sciences managers is closely related to that of engineers; mathematicians; and physical and life scientists, including agricultural and food scientists, biological and medical scientists, conservation scientists and foresters, atmospheric scientists, chemists and materials scientists, environmental scientists and geoscientists, and physicists and astronomers. It also is related to the work of other managers, especially top executives.

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Associations, Resources & Accreditation

High school students interested in obtaining a full package of guidance materials and information on a variety of engineering disciplines should contact the Junior Engineering Technical Society.

High school students interested in obtaining information on ABET-accredited engineering programs should contact:

• The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

Non-licensed engineers and college students interested in obtaining information on Professional Engineer licensure should contact:

• The National Society of Professional Engineers
• National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveying

Information on general engineering education and career resources is available from:

• American Society for Engineering Education

Information on obtaining an engineering position with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management through a telephone-based system. Consult your telephone directory under U.S. Government for a local number or call (912) 757-3000; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339. The first number is not toll free, and charges may result.

Non-high school students and those wanting more detailed information should contact societies representing the individual branches of engineering. Each can provide information about careers in the particular branch. The individual statements that follow also provide other information in detail on aerospace; agricultural; biomedical; chemical; civil; computer hardware; electrical and electronics, except computer; environmental; industrial, including health and safety; materials; mechanical; mining and geological, including mining safety; nuclear; and petroleum engineering.

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Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-03 Edition, Engineering and Natural Sciences Managers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/

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