This study explores the impact of middle managers' digital leadership on employee work engagement, focusing on the mediating roles of employee empowerment and affective commitment, and the moderating effect of emotional intelligence. Drawing from Social Exchange Theory, the research examines survey data from 559 respondents across 11 listed companies in Southwest China. The findings indicate that middle managers' digital leadership has a significant positive impact on employee work engagement. Employee empowerment and affective commitment serve as mediating factors, with emotional intelligence moderating the relationship between digital leadership and employee empowerment. The study emphasizes the importance of fostering digital leadership capabilities in middle management to enhance employee engagement and adapt to digital transformation. The results provide valuable insights for organizations to improve employee work engagement through strategic digital leadership, highlighting the roles of employee empowerment, affective commitment, and emotional intelligence.This study explores the impact of middle managers' digital leadership on employee work engagement, focusing on the mediating roles of employee empowerment and affective commitment, and the moderating effect of emotional intelligence. Drawing from Social Exchange Theory, the research examines survey data from 559 respondents across 11 listed companies in Southwest China. The findings indicate that middle managers' digital leadership has a significant positive impact on employee work engagement. Employee empowerment and affective commitment serve as mediating factors, with emotional intelligence moderating the relationship between digital leadership and employee empowerment. The study emphasizes the importance of fostering digital leadership capabilities in middle management to enhance employee engagement and adapt to digital transformation. The results provide valuable insights for organizations to improve employee work engagement through strategic digital leadership, highlighting the roles of employee empowerment, affective commitment, and emotional intelligence.