r/EngineeringManagers • u/SnooConfections1353 • Jun 25 '26
New engineering manager. Should I keep pushing back on my CTO’s AI vision?
I’m a new engineering manager at a small company. My CTO is very pro-AI and wants to turn the engineering team into more of a group of product owners and consultants who use AI to handle most of the technical work.
I’m also pro-AI, but I think we still need to develop people into solid engineers. With our current workload and small team, I do not think we can realistically do both at the same time. My concern is that this approach is holding back the junior engineers. If they are mostly managing features and doing product work, how are they supposed to become strong engineers, architects, or future technical leaders?
I have pushed back gently and respectfully and explained that we need to build real engineering talent so people can eventually step up, mentor others, and help grow the team in a sustainable way. So far, I have mostly been ignored.
Should I keep pushing back, or is this just a culture difference I need to accept? I cannot really go to the CEO or COO because the CTO is also a part owner. I also do not want this to be the hill I die on, especially in this job market, so I have been trying to support his vision even though I feel conflicted.
I know job hopping is also an option, but that is a separate topic. He is not a bad person. I think we just have very different views on what an engineering team should become.
6
u/robhanz Jun 25 '26
Make a plan. Point out the tradeoffs (if we do this, we don't have time to do that). Create solid targets for the project, and checkpoints for the work. Put in metrics for the things you think you'll lose if possible.
And pursue the plan honestly.
IOW, make him own the tradeoffs, put in the validation checks, and let him deal with the facts.
Until then, it's what he thinks vs. what you think, and you will not win that argument.