Getting a configuration manager job.

How did you get your start doing configuration manager work, and what career moves did you make to get to your current position?

Do you need a particular educational background?

Even though I know enough about software CM to get by, my background is primarily hardware CM.

I got started as a mechanical designer. I did that for about 12 years, and then a few more years of filling various production roles in a design start-up firm. I've been serving as a CM Manager for the last 15 years.

Since the products whose documentation and data you will be managing are generally technical in nature, it certainly helps to have technical/engineering training or background. I do not have a degree, but am finally pursuing one in Business Management.

A well-rounded knowledge of engineering and production disciplines is critical for a successful CM Manager. Often overlooked is an understanding of how and why the data was created, and a thorough understanding of how it is used. Though knowing how to do baseline management is very important, today’s tools assist greatly with the nuts and bolts of this process. There are many other principles of the discipline as well.

A web search will turn up companies that teach CM, but I do not believe this is money well spent, and I would not hire someone with this training alone. The best bet will be to get an entry level CM position (often called a CM Administrator) and learn by doing.

The most respected certifications in CM, NDAI Certification is one example, are typically only given to those who pass a certification test. The NDAI tests are available based on one’s level of experience. Though there are probably some unfortunate exceptions, in general CM Management is a profession attained by the experience of participating in product configuration management in engineering and production environments.
jb

For me it was mainly the automation and scripting that landed me in the SCM arena. Trouble shooting is another thing that I enjoy doing.