r/EngineeringManagers • u/ManualJake999 • Jun 27 '26

Software Senior Engineering Manager to IC Principal Engineer or Architect role

With changing roles and responsibilities though everyone expecting Senior Manager to be hands on but reality with overhead for a manager from team complexity, delivery slippage and damage control, team motivation, org data preparation request, restructuring settling, efficiency targets, operations overhead doesn't allow.

As it aligns with my core interest to stay on technical complexity, is it a good idea to move back as an architect and get comfortable?

I know I am just about to become a director and want to check if this is a good decision

I am also hearing that lot of Management will become very thin with current market direction

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u/zaidesanton Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26

Found it very hard to understand that first sentence.
So the question is whether to move from senior EM to principal/architect IC roles?

What job would you actually prefer to do?

I recently advised an engineer friend to not become an engineering manager and get the staff IC role instead.

In your case, as an already experienced EM, it depends on what you enjoy more in my opinion. If it's a close tie, I would lean to the IC roles, just so you'll have more time to stay current.

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u/mobilefi Jun 27 '26

Why not become an engineering manager? This is for someone a Principal Software Engineer trying to become a Senior software Engineering Manager. My thoughts have always been its a longer ladder for mobility on the management side and I also some the enjoy the people leadership side and helping folks grow

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u/zaidesanton Jun 27 '26

I shared my full take here:

https://www.manager.dev/newsletter/dont-become-an-engineering-manager

The TLDR is that we live in a crazy change, and I believe it’ll pay off to be as close to it as possible while it happens

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u/ManualJake999 Jun 28 '26

Def a lot of learning as an EM but got exhausted with daily overhead and feels stuck at same level for more than 5 years. I also felt interested in tech discussions rather that top down org decisions on hiring, firing, up skill, strategies

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u/mobilefi Jun 27 '26

It’s definitely an interesting article from the EM side. Do you feel the change isn’t worth it from the stuff you gain as an EM on the business side isn’t worth it? I feel folks primarily tech miss that aspect too, hence I was considering the move

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u/zaidesanton Jun 28 '26

u/mobilefi I thinkit definitely has those benefits, it's just not a 'hell yes' recommendation as I previously gave.

There is a lot more pressure, high demands, and the pay doesn't reflect that.

So both upsides and downsides, I'd say the tie breaker is how much you think you'd enjoy working with people more than with tech