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Good timing as I contemplate whether I want to go the Engineering manager vs. Individual contributor route. Being at the Senior engineer level now, I find this
by thex10 5y ago
Good timing as I contemplate whether I want to go the Engineering manager vs. Individual contributor route.
Being at the Senior engineer level now, I find this resource a nice counterbalance against the abundance of existing material aimed at engineering management and the vast ocean of material for Junior engineers.
- xcambar 5y agoI don't think it's a definitive choice. I've jumped from one to the other and vice versa based on opportunities and contexts, and it continues to serve me well. Really, it is only 2 different ways to contribute to a product and engage in a team. If you can be good at both, why force a career-long choice?
- Rafert 5y agohttps://charity.wtf/2017/05/11/the-engineer-manager-pendulum/ https://charity.wtf/2017/05/11/the-engineer-manager-pendulum... is a great read on this.
- juancn 5y agoI went the IC route (Sr. Principal or an IC7). It's difficult to get there but rewarding. In either route, you're still a leader. Managers have formal power, and deal with a lot of process (budgets, pay, promotions, etc.). Tech leads are influencers, we focus a lot more on technology and growth of the team in a different way. You forgo all the messy (boring for me) details of project management, and focus more on the technology and getting the right people to move projects forward, but this requires persuasion. There's not one way to do this job, you have to find your own. The hardest part is probably that of picking the right thing to delegate, to maximize growth and project success. There's some overlap with managers especially as you climb the ladder and your focus is more strategic than tactical.