Why I'm very optimistic about Engineering Managers

Leading Developers

Engineering managers are positioned for success in an AI-driven future because their core value lies beyond coding. While AI agents may handle mid-level programming tasks, EMs excel in three critical areas: understanding business requirements and bridging technical-business gaps, defining clear technical solutions and requirements, and managing complex interpersonal relationships. These skills become more valuable as companies still need humans to guide AI agents, handle incidents, and navigate organizational dynamics. The key advice is for EMs to maintain current coding skills alongside their management expertise.

The best time to be an Engineering Manager is now

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AI agents may handle mid-level programming tasks
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<img src="https://media1.tenor.com/m/--6LynDlRSUAAAAd/uturama-noway.gif" alt="image">

Engineering managers are more easily replaced by AI than mid-level programmers.

I as a dev love engineering managers but, from my experience and what ive been seeing, it looks like companies are getting rid of engineering managers and just want to hire more crud monkeys. It sucks because a really good dev manager is soo vital.

Here’s also an interesting take on the future of engineering managers in the age of AI: <a href="https://www.aviator.co/podcast/the-future-of-engineering-leadership-in-the-age-of-ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://www.aviator.co/podcast/the-future-of-engineering-leadership-in-the-age-of-ai</a>
Quote:
In the next 10-15 years, I’m either going to be a CTO cleaning up after AI, or there won’t be people like me anymore because we’re just going to write the specs and generate the whole app from scratch every time.

<pre><code class="language-markdown">Most software engineers are trained in “computer science,” but being a great engineer is often a skill of understanding the business side, managing the expectations of people, and yes, also defining the right technical solution.
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60% +/- of a technical job is people skills.
90% of advancement in any organization is people skills.
Thrive on people skills.