Can a Software Engineer Become a Product Manager?

Software engineers and product managers (PMs) work closely together to create in-demand tech products. Product management can seem like a natural next step for software engineers who are ready for a new challenge or want to advance their careers. But can a software engineer become a product manager, and if so, how? 

For most software engineers, the answer is yes. Many of the skills they’ve developed during their careers will help them seamlessly transition to a role as a product manager. However, there are some challenges they should be aware of and some steps they can take to make the process easier. 

Software engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software systems and applications. They translate business needs into technical specifications and work with other engineers to build them using efficient and maintainable code. With strong technical and collaborative skills, software engineers work in many industries to create software solutions based on stakeholder interests. 

Product managers have a broader scope than software engineers. They:

• Are responsible for the entire build, from conception to launch 
• Conduct market research and identify customer needs
• Decide what products to build to meet customer pain points
• Define the vision and long-term strategy by creating a product roadmap that aligns with business objectives
• Work closely with software engineering teams to develop and launch successful products

Because they work closely with product managers, software engineers already understand many aspects of the role and what makes a good product manager. This crossover explains why there’s been a 25% increase in the number of software engineers transitioning to product managers in the past three years. 

Why Software Engineers Make Great PMs

Although product management may seem like more of a business role than a technical one, software engineers have many applicable skills that help them excel in the role, including the following: 

Technical Expertise

Understanding coding, architecture, and algorithms helps software engineers understand what’s feasible and how to prioritize features when building technical products. Unlike product managers who come from a strictly business background, software engineers have technical expertise that can streamline the research and ideation phases of product conception. Software engineers quickly understand whether a desired feature is viable and, if so, the most efficient method for developing it. 

Communication and Collaboration

Despite the popular image of a programmer toiling away alone with just their computer for company, software engineers regularly collaborate with other engineers and teams, such as design and marketing. They also have excellent communication skills, such as working with non-technical collaborators and translating their ideas into executable code.

Project managers need these skills to work with stakeholders and the teams involved in designing, building, and launching products. They must also communicate regularly to keep everyone on the same page and meet milestones and project timelines. 

Problem-Solving Skills

Engineers are problem-solvers. They regularly develop innovative solutions for software and computer systems according to strict specifications. They also have to identify and fix bugs, optimize algorithms, and design secure and scalable architecture. These problem-solving abilities easily cross over to project management, where they’ll need to bring a logical and analytical approach to product development. 

Challenges of Transitioning

Although there’s a lot of crossover between roles for software engineers and product managers, some significant differences can make the transition difficult. 

Shifting Focus

Software engineers and product managers focus on different aspects of product development. While engineers primarily focus on building the product, product managers focus on overall strategy and meeting user needs. 

To make the shift, software engineers must adopt a more customer-centric mindset. They’ll also need to be more concerned with market forces. For engineers who’ve spent their careers cultivating a logical approach to technical problems, switching to focusing on the often capricious whims of the market can be challenging.

Business Acumen

Business skills are one area where traditional business graduates may have an advantage over software engineers as product managers. Product managers make data-driven decisions to create products that meet business goals and market demands. 

People with a business background have the training to use business metrics to develop features, allocate resources effectively, and measure success. They may also better understand market trends and how to use them to create successful products. Software engineers can develop this acumen, but they’ll need to make a concerted effort to learn.  

Leadership and Communication

Many senior software engineers have experience leading development teams and using software development methodologies to design and launch products. Although this leadership experience can be valuable to a product manager, they often need a broader set of leadership skills. 

Product managers lead cross-functional teams, so they must be able to communicate and influence a wider variety of people. In addition to working with technical teams, product managers work with stakeholders, business executives, and creative teams.

Bridging the Gap: How To Make the Transition

Software developers who are ready to switch roles can significantly increase their chances of success — both in landing and succeeding in a product manager job — by taking a systematic approach to acquiring the skills and experience they need.

Develop Your PM Skillset

The first step in developing product management skills is learning more about the field. Engineers who take online courses or attend workshops can develop specific skills and gain a better understanding of whether they’ll enjoy working in product management. 

Foundational business courses include subject areas such as management, finance, marketing, and economics that software engineers don’t usually study. Learning specific frameworks like Scrum will provide a structured framework for product management. Engineers who are certified in a product management framework will also have a competitive accomplishment to add to their resume. LinkedIn Learning offers many product management training courses.

One of the best ways to learn more about being a product manager is to network with professionals and learn from their experiences. Software engineers currently working with product managers can start within their own organization. They can ask about shadowing current product managers or set up informational interviews to learn more about the day-to-day responsibilities of a product manager. 

Software developers should also learn project management tools they’ll need to do the job — such as Jira, Trello, and Asana — and roadmapping tools like Aha! and ProductPlan. Knowing how to use these tools will give developers an edge when they’re applying for product management jobs.

Leadership and communication are other key skills engineers may need to improve before they make the switch. They’ll benefit from learning about different leadership styles, when to use them, and how to interact with a range of personality types. If necessary, they can brush up on effective verbal and written communication skills. Groups like Toastmasters can help people improve public speaking skills, which product managers use frequently. 

Highlight Transferable Skills

When software engineers apply for product management roles, they can draw on their wealth of experience and emphasize their transferable skills. They can demonstrate how they’ve applied their technical knowledge and problem-solving skills in current and past projects. 

They should point out how their technical background gives them an advantage in understanding and managing product development. They can also highlight how they use their communication abilities currently and how that will effectively transfer to the new role. 

As they highlight transferable skills, developers should also discuss how they’ve shored up areas where their skills aren’t as strong. They can include classes they’ve taken and additional certifications they’ve earned to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to learning and growing. 

Seek Internal Opportunities

People who are familiar with a software engineer’s work are often the most likely to be willing to give them the opportunity to take on more responsibilities. Their current company can be an ideal starting point for taking on product management responsibilities. Many organizations are open to letting their employees shift roles, particularly if it means retaining a high-value employee. 

Making the Leap From Software Developer to Product Manager

Software developers are in an ideal position to smoothly transition to product management. They already possess the most important skills product managers have, including technical, problem-solving, and communication skills. 

However, there isn’t a perfect overlap between software development and product management. To perform effectively, software engineers will need to supplement their skills by learning more about business and communicating effectively with stakeholders and cross-functional teams. 

With a comprehensive strategy and the right mindset, engineers can easily fill in their knowledge and skill gaps. They can do this with a combination of formal classes, certifications, informal job shadowing, and on-the-job training. 

Dedication and a step-by-step plan are all engineers need to round out their skillset so they can advance their careers. Software engineers who are interested in making the jump to product management can check out the following resources for more information: 

• Product School for classes and certifications in product management 
• TED Talks for inspiration from leading product managers 
• Product management books for leadership and business ideas
• Case studies from real software engineers who’ve successfully made the switch