Ask HN: Feeling stuck as an engineering manager

[throwaway02427]

I used to be an excellent web dev IC. I always saw organizational and process issues, became a manager and started moving up the ladder. Eventually I became manager of managers on a product I understand little on a technical level. I haven't touched code at work in years in any serious way. My tech skills have weakened significantly. Little personal project have kept me afloat, but always using different tech and little time have left me with no depth to my tech skills. However, I am sure I could ramp up super quickly on any language or framework due to my high-level understanding. I haven't worked on SaaS in years, even though that's what I love.

I feel stuck. My level it too low for new roles where companies would not care about low-level coding ability, but my skillset for lower levels is gone. I am tempted to take a huge pay cut and get a basic, maybe even entry-level engineering IC role again. Without my tech skills I feel very insecure. I probably have stronger management skills than I think, but those feel barely like skills. More like common sense which gives me no confidence. I also see those skills rarely reflected on any job postings.

My wife has a friend whose husband was in a similar situation. He now is an aging handy man. Some days I feel like Michael Scott.

Have you been in a similar situation? How did you get out of it?

[meitros]

I think this blog post would be helpful reading: https://charity.wtf/2019/01/04/engineering-management-the-pe...

[Talusmaximus]

I was in a similar boat (I turn 50 soon) until recently. An opportunity to switch to architecture came along and I jumped at the chance. Fast forward a few months and I'm loving being a IC with zero line management responsibility. Maybe that could be a way back for you?

[throwaway02427]

Going via architecture is an interesting angle. I certainly feel more comfortable discussing at that high level and know concepts and trade-offs quite well. I do wonder about even going down to the level of what libraries to use. Much seems to have changed there and there is so much now I've never used personally. Was that an issue for you at all?

[simne]

Must admit, I've been in similar situation in much younger age, and I could not say, that completely resolved it now, looks like this is eternal problem.

So, I read lot of books on marketing, economics, and project management - overall, about few tens; than practice with my own tiny business, and have lot of talks on business forums..

Once I release, I could now see, what things make most business value, and should been considered most priority, and I concentrate on them.

Unfortunately, my new manager mind, from time to time have significant conflicts with engineering side of my personality, so I have to choose, to have enjoy as engineer, or to make business value.

If you interested in details, ask.

[throwaway02427]

I am not sure I understood your response correctly. I am doing fine as a manager right now in my current role from a performance perspective. I just feel concerned that my skillset won't translate to anywhere else. Maybe it will. Programming skills always felt more concrete and more obviously valued. I also miss the more direct feedback loop you get as an IC coder. I could try to move up to become VP or move back to become an IC. No idea which one is more viable and even less which one would make me happier.

[simne]

Only must add, management is mostly art of delegation responsibilities to right person, or to right organization, so you could do more important things, or more pleasant things, still being boss.

[gardenhedge]

I am in the same position as you to be honest. I am in my 30s so I would love to become an IC again and then at around 40 decide if I want to keep doing that. My problem is pulling the trigger and actually doing it. Things are fine as they are even though my passion is for writing and debugging code. I am also very scared of technical interviews. I'm a great engineer and teammate but I would absolutely fail any leetcode interview.

[ineedausername]

I spent half a year doing l33tcode tests, then I realized there are more than a few companies that don't use this method for interviewing.

https://github.com/poteto/hiring-without-whiteboards

I'm not saying you have to use this list tho, just making a point.

[throwaway02427]

The same fear is part of what's holding me back as well.