head of engineering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "head of engineering" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the person in charge of the engineering department or team within an organization. Example: "The head of engineering will present the new project proposal at the meeting next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Prior to joining Betfair, Raj was the Head of Engineering and one of the founding engineers of Yahoo!

TechCrunch

Formerly group head of engineering, BP International plc.

The Guardian

James Everingham is head of engineering at Instagram.

Harvard Business Review

Our new head of engineering had just joined.

Stanford University

Soon after my presentation, our head of engineering quit.

Stanford University

That way only minor reinforcements would be needed, says Charles Champion, head of engineering for Airbus.

The Economist

As an example, my head of engineering is just incredibly passionate about pricing strategy.

The New York Times

The head of engineering is a high performing leader who has the potential to be COO.

Harvard Business Review

After that it took me too long to hire our head of engineering.

Stanford University

Mike Schroepfer, Facebook's head of engineering, says that one of its mottos is "move fast and break stuff".

The Economist

fever included a head of engineering who "threatened to take a baseball bat to any Ferrari in the parking lot".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about the "head of engineering", provide details about their responsibilities and accomplishments to add credibility to your writing.

Common error

Avoid assuming the "head of engineering" is solely responsible for coding; their role typically involves strategic planning, team management, and oversight of engineering projects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "head of engineering" functions as a noun phrase identifying the individual in charge of an organization's engineering department. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable expression in English. Numerous examples illustrate its use in news articles, academic papers, and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "head of engineering" accurately identifies the leader of an engineering department. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and common across various sectors, especially in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. While alternatives like "engineering director" or "chief engineer" exist, "head of engineering" is widely understood and used. It's important to specify the organization to avoid ambiguity and provide relevant details about the role to add context. The role's responsibilities include leadership, strategic planning, and team management, not just coding. In summary, the phrase is versatile for clearly defining a key leadership position in technology and engineering-driven organizations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

engineering director

Replaces "head" with "director", a common synonym for a leadership position.

chief engineer

Uses "chief" instead of "head", emphasizing seniority and expertise.

vice president of engineering

Specifies a vice-presidential level position with responsibility for engineering.

director of technical operations

Focuses on the operational aspects of engineering and technology.

lead engineer

Highlights the leadership aspect of the engineering role, focusing on guidance and technical direction.

senior engineering manager

Emphasizes the management responsibilities within the engineering department.

engineering lead

A more concise version of "lead engineer", suitable for informal contexts.

technical director

Highlights the overall technical expertise and direction provided by the role.

principal engineer

Focuses on the individual's high level of technical skill and influence, rather than direct management.

CTO (Chief Technology Officer)

This phrase designates the person in charge of techology, which includes engineering.

FAQs

What does the "head of engineering" do?

The "head of engineering" is responsible for leading the engineering team, setting technical direction, and ensuring the quality and timely delivery of engineering projects. They often manage budgets, hire talent, and collaborate with other departments.

What are some alternative titles for "head of engineering"?

Some alternative titles include "engineering director", "chief engineer", "vice president of engineering", and director of technical operations, depending on the organization's structure and specific responsibilities.

How does the "head of engineering" differ from a CTO?

While both roles involve technology leadership, the "head of engineering" typically focuses on the day-to-day management and execution of engineering projects. The CTO (Chief Technology Officer) is more involved in long-term strategic technology planning and innovation.

What skills are essential for a successful "head of engineering"?

Essential skills include strong technical expertise, leadership abilities, project management skills, communication skills, and the ability to make strategic decisions. A successful "head of engineering" must also be able to build and motivate a high-performing engineering team.