New job worries

[Sparkzz]

It's looking like I have a new job.

The job is a step up from where I am currently, and will involve managing and being a technical lead to some Engineers who are in a similar position to where I am myself.

The control systems at the new job are similar to what I've used in the past - however they are a more modern and advanced version. I will also be responsible for introducing a new control system which is more similar to what I currently work on, the current employees have no knowledge on this system.

I am worried about being incompetent when adapting to their new control system and that some of my subordinates may well be at a more advanced stage than myself!
I've prepared for the new software by reading all the manuals I can and running some test programs but there will be field equipment I have never seen before that I will need to adapt to.

I have a supervisor who has worked there for a number of years and is an expert in the control systems, I'm hoping that my introduction to the company will be aided by his knowledge and I'll be brought up to speed quickly.

I am qualified educationally for the job, so there shouldn't be any questions about my competency in this area, I'm really looking forward to the job and developing new machinery for the company (not worried about this as I'll be the project owner and have more control over this)

Any advice for not looking like a sponge?

[soad]

Get to know the team, put in some effort and don't be shy. Banter helps.

[spikeyhead]

You're there to bring engineering knowledge, not knowledge of their own systems.

[bobmcgod]

I know how to run plenty of equipment my line manager doesn't. We're taking on some more areas where he won't get chance to know it either, but someone somewhere will. Get to know the people you work with and who knows what, you can be there when they display the knowledge so you can learn from them and shows that you value the people you work with.

[haventahybrid]

Sparkzz said:

It's looking like I have a new job.

The job is a step up from where I am currently, and will involve managing and being a technical lead to some Engineers who are in a similar position to where I am myself.

The control systems at the new job are similar to what I've used in the past - however they are a more modern and advanced version. I will also be responsible for introducing a new control system which is more similar to what I currently work on, the current employees have no knowledge on this system.

I am worried about being incompetent when adapting to their new control system and that some of my subordinates may well be at a more advanced stage than myself!
I've prepared for the new software by reading all the manuals I can and running some test programs but there will be field equipment I have never seen before that I will need to adapt to.

I have a supervisor who has worked there for a number of years and is an expert in the control systems, I'm hoping that my introduction to the company will be aided by his knowledge and I'll be brought up to speed quickly.

I am qualified educationally for the job, so there shouldn't be any questions about my competency in this area, I'm really looking forward to the job and developing new machinery for the company (not worried about this as I'll be the project owner and have more control over this)

Any advice for not looking like a sponge?

Whoever hired you to manage said technical team probably wouldn't have hired you with the view that you are more "technical" than the rest of the team. You don't need to be the SME. Your skills should be common sense, critical thinking, the ability to read people and get the best out of them etc. From what you have said this is what I have inferred and where you should look to excel. Clearly you need some technical knowledge but with your qualifications and previous experience I do not get the impression that you're lacking here.

[montecristo]

In a similar situation, I was open with my team that they knew more than I did (it's not like I could pretend otherwise), and I gave them credit for that. My job was to make sure everything ran on time, tying everyone's work together, troubleshooting, taking flack from the client, taking things to a new level that went beyond doing more of the same every day, etc.

[haventahybrid]

montecristo said:

In a similar situation, I was open with my team that they knew more than I did (it's not like I could pretend otherwise), and I gave them credit for that. My job was to make sure everything ran on time, tying everyone's work together, troubleshooting, taking flack from the client, taking things to a new level that went beyond doing more of the same every day, etc.

That is exactly it!