Doctors don't have managers. Lawyers don't have managers. Professors don't have managers. Architects don't have managers. Bankers don't have managers.
Engineers should not have managers.
There should just be different levels of engineers.
Is that so? Here is an open position: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/management/ro...
> Lawyers don't have managers.
Hmm, we seem to have very different information: https://timeanalyticssoftware.com/what-is-a-law-firm-managin...
> Professors don't have managers
I wonder what do the Dean and Chair at my university do then.
> Architects don't have managers
They do. See https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/architectural-and-enginee...
> Bankers don't have managers
They do. See this open position: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/bank-man...
> Engineers should not have managers.
I think nobody should have managers, but your examples were so confidently wrong that it's hard to agree with your whole statement. I am on the opinion that any work, no matter whether "high-skilled" or not, doesn't need managers, unless that's just an euphemism for more senior employees that also do the work.
The dean & chairperson at your university are not line managers. They are not in the classrooms with teaching professors. They are not in the labs with research professors.
Having someone be in charge of you is not the same as having a line manager. Line managers are down in the trenches with the employees, unlike most of your examples.