Environmental Management versus Ecological Engineering?

How do I keep switching back and forth between software engineering and product management over time?

• I'm a software engineer who switched to being a product manager two years ago. I really enjoy product management and I'm told that I'm really good at it, but I was also a really good engineer and I miss it. I'd like to quit my PM job and become an engineer again, and then likely switch back to PM again in the future. I also feel like taking time off being a product manager to be an engineer will keep my technical skills current. Have any of you done something like this or know of anyone who has -- that is, combining both engineering and product management over time elegantly while still having a great career? How would I convince start-ups to give me an engineering job again now that I've been out of day-to-day engineering for a few years? If I get back into engineering, how do I convince start-ups to give me back a product management job in the future after not being a product manager for a few years? Ultimately, such a difference would be meaningless if I had my own company, but as long as I'm working for others, there appears to be a need for well-defined, distinct roles...

• Answer:

  In my opinion, you're going to need to pick one or the other as your primary career path - personally, I'd choose Product Management as my path, and do some side projects to keep my Engineering skills polished - build iPhone or Android apps, etc.