Director of Engineering
A director of engineering should have a strong technical background, along with non-technical skills such as project management experience and people skills. In larger companies, there can be multiple directors of engineering, overseeing the work of multiple managers working on projects.
Corporate Structure and Legal Requirements
A CEO is appointed by the management to run the operations of a company and reports to the board of directors. A managing director takes orders from the CEO. According to Section 149 of the Companies Act, every company shall have a minimum number of directors, with 15 being the maximum allowed—though more can be appointed by passing a resolution.
Hierarchies in Engineering Roles
The VP of engineering is responsible for driving strategy and vision and typically leads teams to deliver quality software. VPs manage engineering managers and directors and are higher in hierarchy and salary compared to directors. The top VP is the executive VP, second only to the president.
Differences Between Roles
Director vs. Manager
A director of engineering is in charge of goals and quality standards and usually holds a middle management position in large organizations. Directors oversee multiple teams and projects and have legal liability for the company’s actions.
VP vs Director
The VP of engineering is above the director of engineering in the hierarchy of a company. VPs handle strategy and the overall vision of the engineering department, while directors focus on overseeing multiple teams and ensuring company goals and quality standards are met.
CFO and COO
The CFO oversees company finances, and the COO oversees operations, with both reporting to the CEO. These roles require significant experience in their respective areas.
Manager vs Product Manager
The engineering manager works closely with the product manager to enable team success, creating an environment for people to thrive. A group manager typically oversees a single team, whereas a director leads multiple teams and must have strong communication and organizational skills.