How to Prepare for Leadership Roles in Software Engineering

By IEEE Computer Society Team on

September 3, 2025

Lead cross-functional teams.

Complete complex projects with little oversight.

Mentor a junior engineer.

Feel energized by the thought of presenting, speaking in front of people, and working with executives.

Overcoming Obstacles in the Path to Software Engineering Leadership

Perhaps it’s self-doubt or navigating new engineering leadership. Maybe it's anxiety about a new role, or a promotion wasn't received in the past. Whatever the situation, thousands of other software engineers were in your shoes at one point. It’s completely normal to feel nervous about stepping away from what's familiar and embarking on a new, exciting career path. There are so many strategies and programs aligning mid-career engineers with evolving technologies and industry trends because this is such a popular transition to leadership.

How to Build Must-Have Leadership Skills for Software Engineers

For someone considering a transition, take this time to work on both soft skills and technical knowledge. Volunteer to lead a small project like a new software implementation, or offer to present the retrospective look back at the next sprint. Explore existing opportunities with a current employer for education reimbursements or ask if they’ll pay for any continuous learning and professional development. For employees looking to make a lateral move, explore training programs that encourage knowledge transfer.

Pay close attention to certifications that increase promotion potential and professional recognition. Here are things an individual can do:

Consider the next-level certification within a preferred technology stack
Upskill within AI, and even consider a mini-MBA from an esteemed organization
Explore programs that empower engineers to move into leadership and management roles
Talk with mentors who have navigated the same transition
Perform a self-directed career assessment to self-reflect on growth and development
Explore frameworks like the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) as an industry benchmark for software engineering excellence

Here are a few ideas for leveraging an employer and an existing organization:

Practice working cross-functionally by proactively reaching out to other departments to forge relationships
Seek out specific training programs to improve cross-functional collaboration
Ask a manager for specific feedback on moving into leadership, and identify areas of opportunity

While technical skills are simpler to enhance, soft skills are sometimes more challenging. Here is a snapshot of the must-have leadership skills for software engineers:

Strong communication skills
Empathy and emotional intelligence
Problem-solving and ambiguous decision-making strengthen
Ability to remain calm and collected in high-stakes situations

Begin a Transition to Software Leader

Anyone can move into engineering leadership with preparation, conscious practice, and the right resources. Perform a thorough self-reflection to assess current strengths and weaknesses, and create a detailed plan to uplevel any areas. Reach out for help, and share goals with your manager or leadership.

Explore credible, industry-backed frameworks like SWEBOK that can accelerate career growth for experienced software engineers, as one of many programs aligning mid-career engineers with evolving technologies and industry trends. Feel confident about foundational knowledge and know exactly where to enhance skills with evolving technologies, emerging trends, and new frameworks.

Click here to download the free SWEBOK Guide.