Is Management Inevitable

I think it really depends on the company you are working for.

I started my career in software as an engineer and was assigned to all of the most recent new technologies (Apple Newton, Palm, and Java when it first started, for example). So my skills progressed constantly, and it was very interesting work.

Then I worked for a different company as a manager and I felt that my software engineering skills really stagnated as I didn't get to do much "real" hands-on work. But I did enjoy the management work too.

Now I'm self-employed so I guess I'm still a manager in a way, and the nice thing is that now I am able to choose what I want to work on. Of course it helps that my choice also happens to be a popular thing these days!

If you're thinking in terms of paycheque, then the steps to management and self-employment did progress my career significantly. For me it also increased my enjoyment

For me the best situation would be to be a manager with the time and resources to keep exploring all the latest funnest technologies!

Cheers,

-Nico

It seems we are all in agreement so far, yo have to choose where you want to go. In my experience, this typically leads to management but it does not have to. There are fewer opportunities to stay technical but they do exist.

A classic and exemplary example is Bob Pease a staff scientist for National Semiconductors. he stayed hands on all the way to his death in 2011 (Car Crash) at eh age of 70, if it was not for the crash I am sure he would be still making videos on YouTube and teaching us young folks how to build real analog circuits, he was truly amazing and probably went as High in his career as possible without being a manager and that was High.

From what I have discovered, several companies have roles like the "Staff Scientist" created specifically to allow people who excel at the technology but don't want to become a manager to continue to grow in the company.

So don't think you have to become a manager, you dont. It may be the easier route to fame and fortune but if the passion is there, there are alternatives.

btw, f this is the first time your hearing about Bob, you have to go check out his videos, for the subjects he talks about (He Hated Digital) he is absolutely unique and gifted.

Bob Pease - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Remembering Bob Pease - TI.com

proof there are choices

Sorry to whinge but:

from Analog engineering legend Bob Pease killed in car crash | EDN

Bob was loved by the analog community. After getting a degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1961, Bob worked at Philbrick Researches, designing vacuum tube amplifiers and voltage-to-frequency converters. He considered working at Analog Devices, in the Boston area, but instead came out to Silicon Valley to work at National Semiconductor. He lived in San Francisco with his wife Nancy, in part so his sons could avail themselves of the choir venues where they loved to sing.

As far as I can tell BP never worked for Analog Devices.

I suspect that Bob did a lot of managing in a guerrilla sort of way. I think it was the ability to make use of mavericks like Bob that made the early semi conductor companies like National so good.

I've done a good bit of managing but now I work on my own - very hands on and I definately I  want to go back to worrying about defending my team from the PHB. (Not all mamaging is like that, of course, but it seems to be increasingly so in larger companies.)

MK

Sorry to whinge but:

from Analog engineering legend Bob Pease killed in car crash | EDN

Bob was loved by the analog community. After getting a degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1961, Bob worked at Philbrick Researches, designing vacuum tube amplifiers and voltage-to-frequency converters. He considered working at Analog Devices, in the Boston area, but instead came out to Silicon Valley to work at National Semiconductor. He lived in San Francisco with his wife Nancy, in part so his sons could avail themselves of the choir venues where they loved to sing.

As far as I can tell BP never worked for Analog Devices.

I suspect that Bob did a lot of managing in a guerrilla sort of way. I think it was the ability to make use of mavericks like Bob that made the early semi conductor companies like National so good.

I've done a good bit of managing but now I work on my own - very hands on and I definately I  want to go back to worrying about defending my team from the PHB. (Not all mamaging is like that, of course, but it seems to be increasingly so in larger companies.)

MK

Updated , it was a miss read, sorry