An Engineering Project Manager (EPM) acts as the bridge between technical engineering teams and business leadership. Unlike a general PM, an EPM must possess enough technical depth to understand complex system constraints while managing the traditional "triple constraint" of scope, time, and cost.
Core Roles & Responsibilities
- Technical Planning & Scoping: Translating high-level business requirements into detailed technical specifications and Work Breakdown Structures (WBS).
- Cross-Functional Coordination: Synchronizing efforts between hardware, software, mechanical, and electrical engineering teams to ensure system integration.
- Risk Management & Mitigation: Identifying technical "blockers" early—such as supply chain delays for components or software dependencies—and developing contingency plans.
- Resource & Capacity Planning: Managing engineering bandwidth and specialized equipment (labs, prototypes) using tools like Jira or Microsoft Project.
- Product Lifecycle Management (PLM): Overseeing the journey from R&D and prototyping to manufacturing and final release, often utilizing PLM software like Autodesk Fusion 360 or Siemens Teamcenter.
- Quality Assurance & Compliance: Ensuring all engineering outputs meet industry standards (e.g., ISO 9001 or IEEE) and internal safety protocols.
- Budget & Vendor Management: Tracking R&D spend, managing specialized engineering consultants, and overseeing procurement of technical components.
- Technical Communication: Distilling complex engineering updates into clear, actionable status reports for non-technical stakeholders and executives.
Essential Technical Stack
- Project Management: Jira, Linear, or Azure DevOps.
- Documentation: Confluence or Notion for technical wikis and API documentation.
- Version Control Awareness: A baseline understanding of GitHub or GitLab to track development velocity.
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
