A Career for MS in Engineering Management - Master Degrees

MS in Engineering Management can be defined as the application of the practice of management to the practice of engineering. If you feel you are comfortable to handle the management side of different engineering fields, Engineering Management would be a perfect choice. Engineering Managers focus more on developing the overall concept of a product and solving the problems that prevent the completion of a project.

Just like any other skill, management skills will help the engineers take over the whole project and do the necessary work for the completion of the same. The technical skills are useful to solve problems like cost estimation, quality assurance, adjustments, or forecasting. Some of the skills that an engineering manager should have are:

• Problem Solving
• Planning
• Communication
• Delegation
• Meeting Management
• Negotiations Skills Training
• Stress Management and Work-life balance
• Team building

An engineering manager guarantees increased benefits for the organization and clients working on improving efficiency, enhanced effectiveness, and replicating success.

MS in Engineering Management would be the right choice of career for you if,

• You are an engineering major who is interested in developing skills in business, technology management, or entrepreneurship.
• You are interested in industrial management, technology entrepreneurship, or R&D management.
• You are interested in an alternative to traditional engineering masters.

MEM helps you build a link between engineering, technology, and management. It focuses on managing and optimizing the output of engineering processes using the tools of business management.

A full-time MEM program in a reputed university takes close to 12 to 15 months for completion. However, some universities offer part-time programs as well for students who are looking for short-term courses.

If you are confident about your skills in the engineering field can excel in Engineering Management with their basic engineering skills. Prior knowledge of business and management laws is also an added advantage for MEM.

Another critical point to note is that MEM programs also come under the STEM discipline by focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Like every other master degrees there are some prerequisites for MEM.

• You must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or stem discipline.
• A valid TOEFL or IELTS score.
• Letter of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose

While most of the programs don’t require you to have work experience, there are some programs which you to have work experience for less than five years.

A selection is made based on the evaluation of your application, and pre-selected students will then be invited for a face-to-face Skype interview. The admission process is also based on,

• A great SOP and LOR.
• A strong ambition to rise the managerial hierarchy and willingness to learn new skills.
• Valid TOEFL or IELTS score is required.
• GMAT/GRE test score is compulsory, but people with work experience may be waived off.

A regular Engineering Management program includes the following topics:

• Accounting
• Economics
• Finance
• Project Management
• Systems Engineering
• Mathematical modeling and optimization
• Management Information Systems
• Quality Control
• Operations Management and Research
• Supply Chain Management

With the growing demand for Engineering Management, there are many countries offering programs for the same. Some of the best countries to study EM are:

• USA
• Canada
• Australia
• UK
• China
• Hongkong

There are plenty of universities who are offering MEM programs, but if you’re looking to build your career in EM, picking the right university is the most crucial step. Some of the best engineering management programs are:

• University College of London, UK.
• The National University of Singapore.
• Kings College London, UK.
• Australian National University, Australia.
• Columbia University, USA.
• Tsinghua University, China.
• The University of Bristol, UK.
• The University of Melbourne, Australia.
• Stanford University, USA.
• Cornell University, USA.
• Duke University, USA.
• Northwestern University, USA.
• MIT, USA.
• Dartmouth College, USA.

Even though the course fees vary according to different countries, the average cost for an Engineering Management program is around $24,700.

The career choices are vast for an Engineering Manager as it if for any other engineering discipline. Some of the career choices are:

• Chemical Process Engineer
• Automation Engineer
• Client Services Analyst
• Construction Project Manager
• Design Engineer
• Director of Hardware Engineering
• Economics Consultant
• Firmware Engineer
• Application Engineer
• Associate Marketing Manager

Engineering Managers are vital to the organization as they take responsibility for both engineering and business side of the organization. Some of their job duties are:

• Coordinate and direct projects.
• Direct, review and approve product design.
• Recruit employees
• Develop and implement policies for the engineering work performed
• Prepare budgets
• Analyze technology, resource needs, and market demand.

There are two main types of engineering managers, Product Engineering Manager and Process Engineering Manager. While one concentrates more on the defining technical strategy and architectural vision for the product, the other focuses more in charge of designing and implementing manufacturing processes.

Process Engineering Managers are responsible for testing new processes, collecting data required to make improvements or modifications. Some of their tasks are:

1. Managing a team responsible for manufacturing processes.
2. Ensuring continuous improvement in process, cost, quality, and production.
3. Resolve engineering problems.
4. Ensuring operational excellence.

Product Engineering Managers review efficiencies and eliminate waste within the manufacturing process. They make sure that the right quantity of components is delivered to support the speed of the production line. Their key responsibilities are:

1. Strategy and development.
2. General and Task Management.
3. People Management.
4. Financial Budget and control.
5. Relationship Management.
6. Self Management.

An entry-level engineering manager with less than five years of experience can earn an average salary of $91,000 per year.

If you have 5-10 years of experience, the average salary would be around $111,000 per year.

However, higher pay can be expected for candidates who have additional expertise.