My day begins with reviewing requests that have come in overnight from colleagues in Asia. These can be requests for information, or help seeking training, or edits to a newsletter. Throughout the day I'll have meetings with different teams, either focused on creating training, working on messaging for a product launch, or editing technical publications for conferences. I might even go into our recording studio to work with a subject matter expert on recording a video explaining their research.
CAREER
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$149,530
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+2.6% (slower than the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Bachelor's degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Architectural and Engineering Managers Do
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
Other Job Titles Architectural and Engineering Managers May Have
Civil Engineering Manager, Electrical Engineering Manager, Engineering Director, Engineering Group Manager, Engineering Program Manager, Mechanical Engineering Manager, Process Engineering Manager, Project Engineering Manager, Project Manager
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Chief Transformation Officer & Regional Manager of Western New York ,
New York Power Authority
We have multiple facilities spread across a large area that I may be working at. For example, if there's maintenance at one of the units, I'll go speak with the supervisor and team to see how the job is going. I'm also involved in making decisions around investments and assets. I may be on a call with headquarters talking about large project investments, the scope of the project, what the priority is, etc. We're also always working toward improving safety so I may be in conversations about that.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Manage the coordination and overall integration of technical activities in architecture or engineering projects.
- Direct, review, or approve project design changes.
- Consult or negotiate with clients to prepare project specifications.
- Prepare budgets, bids, or contracts.
- Present and explain proposals, reports, or findings to clients.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Architectural and Engineering Managers
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (47%)
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Architecture
Senior Project Manager & Architect
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Environmental Design/Architecture
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
It's important to know how to collaborate with others and communicate with different teams that may not speak the same engineering or technical languages as you. The quality that makes someone a standout engineer is the ability to communicate to other people. If you have a great idea but you can't describe it to someone else, it's as if it'll never happen because there is no project an engineer can work on today that does not include other people. As a leader, authenticity is very important.
You need to understand what your client wants and how to make it fit within the budget and building codes. School is great, but you must continue learning. Communication is critical. Experience working with other companies and regulatory agencies fill in the gaps. Knowing the preferences of the people that review the drawings and specifications help one focus on the items that will receive the most scrutiny rather than spending too much time on the trivial information.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Middle School Students
Learn to speak clearly in a language your audience can understand.
High School Students
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
