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The engineering manager role is splitting in two

Which path will you choose?
June 09, 2026

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Key takeaways:

  • The engineering manager (EM) role is splitting into two very different futures. One stays close to the code. The other expands outward across multiple teams.
  • Most companies haven’t decided which model they’re building: the flattening is happening through layoffs and reorgs, not deliberate design.
  • The preparation for each path is completely different.

AI is reshaping the traditional team structure that engineering managers are used to. Here’s what the role is turning into, and how to figure out which version of it you’re working toward.

Imagine the team you joined five years ago.

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