Some Paths of Software Engineering

Some Paths of Software Engineering:

0. Tech lead

1. Head up a team of devs (usually not managing)
2. Shared technical vision
3. Responsible for the quality of the tech

1. Architect

1. Interface with people leaders & non-techies
2. Design docs & specs, little code
3. Expert in an area of focus

2. The Code Machine

1. Individual Contributor (IC)
2. Doesn’t care for management
3. Subject Matter Expert, often with 10y+ experience

3. Firefighter

1. Understand the company & its problems
2. Puts out fires & harvests value
3. Sometimes can be relatively junior

4. Product engineer

1. User & product focused
2. Market & customer research, not code
3. They “why” (product ideas), not the “how”

5. Right hand

1. Sidekick to an exec
2. Removes problems from their plate
3. Not very common (requires a big org)

Bonus: The Undecided

1. Jumped between the roles a bunch of times
2. Didn’t like any of them
3. Considers llama farming

Which one do you want to be when you grow up?