Pathway · Lateral move
Football Data Engineer to Football Tech Product Manager
How to move from Football Data Engineer to Football Tech Product Manager: what to learn, what to prove and what formal steps, if any, are needed.
Qualification check for Football Tech Product Manager
Strongly preferred
Most employers will expect a qualification for the new role, but evidence of experience also counts. Employers look for product or technology experience first, then football knowledge.
1 to 3 yearstypical timeline
3new skills to build
0qualifications to consider
-3%mid-point UK pay change, illustrative
The move at a glance
Football Data Engineer
Builds the pipelines and databases that feed analysts and coaches.
Football Tech Product Manager
Guides the development of football software and data products.
Skills and knowledge to build
Experience and routes that help
Qualifications to consider
No additional qualification is typically required. Experience and a track record matter most.
What the new role asks of you
- Gather needs from clubs and users
- Prioritise features and manage the roadmap
- Work with engineers, designers and analysts
Practical steps
- Ask for a small piece of the new role's work before you apply, for example one of the tasks above.
- Close the top gap first: Communication.
- Keep a record of two results that show you working at the next level.
- Talk to three people who do the job. Ask how they got in, and who they would recommend you speak to.