eng manager

Jira creation, sprint planning, and status reporting are increasingly automated by AI tools like Linear, Notion AI, and project management copilots. However, performance reviews, conflict mediation, hiring decisions, technical mentorship, and strategic prioritization require human judgment. At 5 years experience with basic task descriptions, roughly 40% of current activities are automatable, leaving 60% requiring human insight.

AI progress in engineering management tools is moderate-to-fast. Code generation (GitHub Copilot, Cursor) and project management automation are advancing rapidly, but AI for nuanced people management, organizational design, and strategic technical decisions lags significantly. The management layer is more insulated than individual contributor roles, but administrative aspects face increasing automation pressure.

IT companies in the 201-1000 employee range are aggressively adopting AI development tools, with 70%+ already using or piloting AI coding assistants. Project management AI adoption is growing but slower due to integration complexity. Your company size suggests moderate-to-high adoption velocity, meaning your role will transform within 2-3 years.

Engineering management heavily relies on empathy, trust-building, conflict resolution, career development, team culture creation, and ethical judgment—all areas where humans maintain strong advantages. However, the administrative/coordination aspects (your current focus on Jira) don't leverage these advantages. Shifting toward people-centric leadership increases resilience significantly.

With 5 years in IT and management experience, you have moderately transferable skills. Engineering management principles apply across tech domains, and leadership skills transfer to product management, program management, or technical consulting. However, limited experience depth means you're not yet positioned for senior leadership roles that are most AI-resistant. Building broader technical and leadership expertise increases optionality.

Engineering manager demand remains very strong with 15-20% year-over-year job posting growth. Median salaries are rising (currently $140-180K for your experience level), and there's a documented shortage of qualified technical leaders. However, demand is shifting toward managers who can lead AI-augmented teams rather than traditional coordinators.