Engineering Manager vs Tech Lead: Which Does Your Startup Need?

# Engineering Manager vs Tech Lead: Which Does Your Startup Need?

As your engineering team grows, you'll face a common question: do we need an engineering manager, a tech lead, or both? The answer depends on your team, your challenges, and your growth plans.

The Roles Defined

### Tech Lead Focuses on technical execution: - Architecture decisions - Code quality and standards - Technical mentorship - Hands-on contribution

### Engineering Manager Focuses on people and process: - Team performance and growth - Hiring and retention - Process and planning - Cross-functional coordination

When to Hire Each

### Hire a Tech Lead First When - Team is small (<5 engineers) - Technical quality is the bottleneck - Engineers are self-managing - Founders can handle people management

### Hire an Engineering Manager First When - Team is growing rapidly - People issues are emerging - Process is chaotic - Engineers need career development support

### Hire Both When - Team is 10+ engineers - Technical and people challenges both exist - You need specialized focus on each domain

The Hybrid Option

At early stage, you might find someone who can do both: - Tech Lead who can manage people - Engineering Manager who stays technical

This is efficient but rare. Most people excel at one domain.

Making the Decision

Ask yourself: 1. What's hurting more: technical quality or team health? 2. What do your current engineers need most? 3. What can founders cover in the short term? 4. What will you need in 12 months?

The Bottom Line

There's no universal answer. Assess your specific situation, be honest about your gaps, and hire for your most pressing need while planning for the next.