It's irrelevant that it happens to be an engineering department (whatever that might be) that needs motivating (whatever that might be), if the people are fairly remunerated for their work, are constantly challenged and required to think and leave at the end of each day knowing a bit more about...
Well, it isn't easy. I'm a manager with a small team, but the boundaries between managing the team and doing the work are pretty blurred at times. A guy that I hired 2 years ago just quit, he is working out his 4 weeks notice now, and I have to really watch myself in his final few weeks because...