Role
Engineering Manager
Manages engineers and delivery for one team
2-way comparison
Engineering Manager vs Head of Engineering
Compare Engineering Manager and Head of Engineering across responsibilities, authority, and collaboration.
Engineering Manager Head of Engineering
Role
Head of Engineering
Top engineering leader (often in startup)
| Dimension | Engineering Manager | Head of Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | Manages engineers and delivery for one team | Top engineering leader (often in startup) |
| Reporting Relationship | Reports to Senior EM/Director | Reports to CEO |
| Scope of Responsibilities | Single team delivery + hiring | Entire engineering function |
| Decision-Making Authority | Team-level hiring and performance decisions | Final say on technical direction |
| Strategic Planning | Contributes to quarterly planning | Owns engineering strategy |
| Team Management | Manages 5–10 engineers | Manages EMs/Directors |
| Meeting Involvement | Leadership + sprint reviews | Executive team member |
| Project Management | Oversees team roadmap execution | Oversees full engineering roadmap |
| Communication | Cross-functional with Product | Board/investor communication |
| Professional Development | → Senior EM | → VP / CTO |