5 ms·

On Being A Senior Engineer

77 points by wyuenho 14y ago

herval 14y ago
When I was 19 (at which age I obviously knew everything about everything), I always looked down at the "senior" guys, they looked outdated, conservative, full of useless knowledge on things such as Cobol, or C. I eventually got to make friends with several of the "dinosaurs", and got shocked to discover that I was paid more than they were. Fast forward 15 years, I'm now full of experiences. I deployed apps with billions of transactions per day, led teams big and small, learned that there's more than one side to everything and that "The True Solution" is nothing but lack of experience in disguise. Most importantly, I discovered I don't know anything. I'm still shocked, sometimes, when I see arrogant 19-year-olds bending reality to convince people they're right - and getting paid more than us, dinosaurs... :)
- fruchtose 14y ago
  "I eventually...[was] shocked to discover that I was paid more than [the dinosaurs] were." Freudian slip? I think you mean the opposite going by the rest of your story. ;)
  - slap_shot 14y ago
    I don't think so... He was initially shocked that he, as the '19 year old', was paid more than the 'dinosaurs' and later states that the '19 year olds' are still paid more than the 'dinosaurs.'
  - herval 14y ago
    no, I actually mean I was overpaid (or the dinosaurs were overpaid - I'm not sure) - and so are a lot of 19-year-olds I keep working on from time to time...
    - herval 14y ago
      * I meant "or the dinosaurs were underpaid. Ouch.
    - fruchtose 14y ago
      Yeah, I misread that part when I wrote the comment...
millerc 14y ago
"At the peak of your game" after 5-10 years might be true. How would be the market for a "senior" software engineer of 20+ years experience? I have a feeling such a candidate would be deemed "too technical to manage, too senior to be managed".
- fallous 14y ago
  "Too technical to manage" would depend on the skillset of the engineer. If they're one-dimensional in passion or ability (code is ALL!) then I'd say that's true, but it's no less true for a guy with 5 years in chair. "Too senior to be managed" has at least as much to do with the insecurities of the manager than it does the engineer. If you need to be the smartest guy in the room, then you'll surround yourself with lesser talent. If you understand your role of manager is to remove obstacles for those who do their specific roles then you'll be more likely to search out experienced people that GSD.
xiaoma 14y ago
Apologies if it's off-topic, but it matters for for anyone who wants to read the link in the article from locations where FB/Twitter are blocked. Is there a bookmarklet that will get rid of Quora's annoying "you must login with FB or Twitter" page blocker?
- wyuenho 14y ago
  That Quora thread only has 1 answer by Allspaw. Like he said, it's pretty much just the condensed version of this post.
  - xiaoma 14y ago
    Ah, thanks! I really hate those whited out screens... always make me feel like I'm missing something. In this case, it was unfounded.
- dredmorbius 14y ago
  I manually edit and remove elements. There's the RIP (remove it permanently) plug-in for Firefox. Styleish for Chrome can do similar things.
pdufour 14y ago
Excellent article.
SparrowOS 14y ago
Yawn. Let's ask God the most important thing about being a good engineer! God says... hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. 9:22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us? 9:23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. 9:24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 9:25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. ---- God says... Dispenser sorry unrulily struggling tremble thriven nursery measuring bulk worthy enchantment questionings charmed searched Tanzania regeneration eminence planets apostles models majesty live get same openly uttered acuteness stiffneckedness Botswana frown soon praises Louisiana all-sufficient rising prison assign conceit white tosses hundred unstayed permission willest nobility Dispenser cause disputes pauses troublesome dedicated oh_oh everlasting indebted faults hanging garner Theft peculiar principally expects swallowed possessor examples hoping wrong PURPOSE right-doing hurting secretly suspect very drinking attractiveness Since kick_back fruitlessly difficulties how_about preference gall embracement belonging assembly ensuing boiled grandchildren circuits prolix eunuchs lustful overflow bowels firmly you'll_see Would swoon allaying sleeping harmonious satiety mazes Bouverie There greatest manifoldness helpful Treasury indigested diversely debtors subjoinedst Tajikistan purposes Justina nourishment over_the_top schedule scantling infancy's Blessedness hey_thats_right Sacraments snares combine title vestige recall birdlime top physic tends rudely sixth celebration ---- God says... 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. ---- That's about Github. 24/7 God says... church pitied ANYTHING functions contrition strengtheneth Whosoever hungering concluded flower characters maimed finest waters attracts Eating Fish true free-will means Master peace-makers purposing behind world's Medea vehement towards gushed joking aught dew nilled fellow-sinners NO Guide ---- God doesn't want to say favorite city. Let's do country shit-list. God says... abnormal because_I_said_so Enough do_you_know_what_time_it_is bastard hurts_my_head ---- Pizza kinda strange. God says... Rwanda that's_no_fun thats_laughable oh_come_on Germany Uzbekistan how_come HolySpirit radio delightful repeat_after_me if_and_only_if how_goes_it Obama foul how's_the_weather Hicc_up yuck wastoid Pakistan hotel Cote_d_Ivoire it_was_nothing do_you_know_what_time_it_is yada_yada_yada smack_some_sense_into_you Wales umm_the_other_answer why_didn'_you_tell_me where's_the_love Terry France now_you_tell_me thank_you_very_much Lithuania BRB Yawn it's_hopeless ---- Any engineers in the Bible? Do You love engineers, God? God says... 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 22:11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. ---- Russian soldiers used to shower once a week. Russians want to take part in Rome-Sweet-Rome? God says... the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 7:5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. --- Migs. (God laughed) God says... ehh_a_wise_guy goodly compare willed soul's punctuation Victorinus infringement hardheartedness folded transcription dawn fat moderate elements killed door Artificer opened noble prevailed concerns READ divination sacrificed fable neatly ignoble two observes spoil accord shop excellent whichsoever long fragrance beggar-man seduced ran Reason arguments All-creating email directing settling recesses Passing kindled speech smiling Madness authors aforetime respite extended Vindicianus parties hello
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
shuaib 14y ago
Still reading, but before I forget to ask: "It’s a junior engineer mistake to toss insults about a piece of complex technology in 140 characters." Does everyone agree with that? I have seen many senior engineers, specially in open source world, who aren't afraid to use the 'F word' publicly to insult a technology, or even an organisation (Linus vs. Nvidia?). Does an engineer really have to be super formal in how he talks online? Isn't it fun to be a bit more open at times than what 'maturity' requires?
- mgkimsal 14y ago
  Perhaps better stated, it's a mistake for a junior engineer to do so.
- lysol 14y ago
  Sure, it's more fun, but you won't get a bad reputation for refraining from disparaging others and others' creations. That said, I'm just as terrible as the next guy.
- JoachimSchipper 14y ago
  Linus does that. Norvig doesn't appear to tweet at all. Both of these seem appropriate.
- orangethirty 14y ago
  Linus is a special case. When your work powers most of the computers out there, I guess you can say fuck all you want. Plus its not like he goes around saying fuck to everybody. Its to the people that piss him off. He is a target for assholes because insecure little bitches will always try and prove him wrong. Its part of the culture around computers. But hey, if it wasnt for him I would be using Windows. So fuck anyone who doesnt like the way Linus talks.
edw519 14y ago
"A new idea comes suddenly and in a rather intuitive way, but intuition is nothing but the outcome of earlier intellectual experience." - Albert Einstein I've always thought that "earlier intellectual experience" was a necessary but not sufficient condition to extraordinary work. Each of us gets there in our own time frame.
RyanZAG 14y ago
" Mature engineers know that no matter how complete, elegant, or superior their designs are, it won’t matter if no one wants to work alongside them because they are assholes. " I've worked with some assholes that could easily be referred to as mature engineers. Being assholes or not wanting to work alongside them didn't really detract all that much as they could get the job done and there was a lot to learn from them. I'm not sure the author is correct about personality being a part of a senior engineer - or a senior executive - as far too many of those seem to be assholes by definition!
- adminonymous 14y ago
  Agreed. Few people here or elsewhere discuss the role of so-called "politics" in the workplace. You may be referring to those who resort to more than their engineering skills to get ahead, sometimes ruthlessly.
taf2 14y ago
maybe in the next generation of engineering we'll stop trying to classify our engineering abilities and focus on the building of things in front of us. We'll accept that it doesn't matter how long we've been doing something (because we've all not been doing this very long) and we'll realize that even someone who just started at the "keys" has something for us to learn... (warm and fuzzy)... at the end of the day we have a shared goal "get it done"(ahmen) - mature engineeer :P
kabdib 14y ago
> No one should be allowed to avoid the issue by the old formula, “I can’t give a promise because it depends upon so many uncertain factors.” STRONGLY disagree. I've worked on projects where: - Getting a stable build might take four hours (minimum) to several weeks (depending on churn); - Processes for adding components were undocumented magic, and very nearly undebuggable; - Components might take days or weeks to propagate, once you were finally able to make changes to them. Debugging is a similar story. Some bugs are nasty, horrible, complex things that take a lot of time. I've seen showstopper-class kernel level bugs take months to find. The nature of interactions at the hardware / software interface is unbelievably complicated. So what does a "senior" engineer do? - Communicate the nature of the problems in a non-whiny way. - Give responsible estimates. "Three days or a month" is honest, if you say why. - DON'T promise results that you can't actually deliver. - Be prepared to have features cut, and to have conversations about things that you consider less than optimal ("sucky") for the customer. Naturally, your senior engineer is also trying to improve the sucky situation the whole team finds itself in (with better tools, build processes, whatever), but some situations are intractable.
- kabdib 14y ago
  I'll add a little. I do see this a lot in less experienced engineers. "I can't tell you when X will be done." On the other side, I see people promise stuff they can't possibly deliver (due to pressure from management, or simple optimism, or plain cluelessness about the difficulty of a problem). So part of a senior engineer's job is to notice when someone is making bad estimates and correcting the issue. This can range from simple conversation with the engineer, to diving in and helping out, to getting someone transferred or terminated for unfixable cluelessness. Some good tools: - Socratic method. "What don't you know? Can you figure it out?" Repeat. Also, deep examination of base assumptions ("Are you /sure/ you know XXX? Let's dig into that for a bit.") - Crap shield. "Look, leave Figby alone for a few days until he works this out. It'll give him confidence and make him a better engineer." - Crap generator (use this sparingly). "What that guy is doing just isn't very hard, and he's not doing a good job. Have one of ours do it instead, and have your guy do something else." Bring ironclad evidence to the table on this one, because this conversation usually precipitates a firing. The old saw of "Good. Fast. Cheap. Pick two." is so over-used, but it is /so/ damned true. We've been engineering bridges for thousands of years, and we have a pretty good handle on what makes a good bridge. In software, I've come to think of the engineers /as/ the bridges, and we can't engineer a better engineer yet.

77 points by wyuenho 14y ago

When I was 19 (at which age I obviously knew everything about everything), I always looked down at the "senior" guys, they looked outdated, conservative, full of useless knowledge on things such as Cobol, or C. I eventually got to make friends with several of the "dinosaurs", and got shocked to discover that I was paid more than they were. Fast forward 15 years, I'm now full of experiences. I deployed apps with billions of transactions per day, led teams big and small, learned that there's more than one side to everything and that "The True Solution" is nothing but lack of experience in disguise. Most importantly, I discovered I don't know anything. I'm still shocked, sometimes, when I see arrogant 19-year-olds bending reality to convince people they're right - and getting paid more than us, dinosaurs... :)

fruchtose 14y ago
"I eventually...[was] shocked to discover that I was paid more than [the dinosaurs] were." Freudian slip? I think you mean the opposite going by the rest of your story. ;)
- slap_shot 14y ago
  I don't think so... He was initially shocked that he, as the '19 year old', was paid more than the 'dinosaurs' and later states that the '19 year olds' are still paid more than the 'dinosaurs.'
- herval 14y ago
  no, I actually mean I was overpaid (or the dinosaurs were overpaid - I'm not sure) - and so are a lot of 19-year-olds I keep working on from time to time...
  - herval 14y ago
    * I meant "or the dinosaurs were underpaid. Ouch.
  - fruchtose 14y ago
    Yeah, I misread that part when I wrote the comment...

millerc 14y ago

"At the peak of your game" after 5-10 years might be true. How would be the market for a "senior" software engineer of 20+ years experience? I have a feeling such a candidate would be deemed "too technical to manage, too senior to be managed".

fallous 14y ago
"Too technical to manage" would depend on the skillset of the engineer. If they're one-dimensional in passion or ability (code is ALL!) then I'd say that's true, but it's no less true for a guy with 5 years in chair. "Too senior to be managed" has at least as much to do with the insecurities of the manager than it does the engineer. If you need to be the smartest guy in the room, then you'll surround yourself with lesser talent. If you understand your role of manager is to remove obstacles for those who do their specific roles then you'll be more likely to search out experienced people that GSD.

xiaoma 14y ago

Apologies if it's off-topic, but it matters for for anyone who wants to read the link in the article from locations where FB/Twitter are blocked. Is there a bookmarklet that will get rid of Quora's annoying "you must login with FB or Twitter" page blocker?

wyuenho 14y ago
That Quora thread only has 1 answer by Allspaw. Like he said, it's pretty much just the condensed version of this post.
- xiaoma 14y ago
  Ah, thanks! I really hate those whited out screens... always make me feel like I'm missing something. In this case, it was unfounded.
dredmorbius 14y ago
I manually edit and remove elements. There's the RIP (remove it permanently) plug-in for Firefox. Styleish for Chrome can do similar things.

pdufour 14y ago

Excellent article.

SparrowOS 14y ago

Yawn. Let's ask God the most important thing about being a good engineer! God says... hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. 9:22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us? 9:23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. 9:24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 9:25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. ---- God says... Dispenser sorry unrulily struggling tremble thriven nursery measuring bulk worthy enchantment questionings charmed searched Tanzania regeneration eminence planets apostles models majesty live get same openly uttered acuteness stiffneckedness Botswana frown soon praises Louisiana all-sufficient rising prison assign conceit white tosses hundred unstayed permission willest nobility Dispenser cause disputes pauses troublesome dedicated oh_oh everlasting indebted faults hanging garner Theft peculiar principally expects swallowed possessor examples hoping wrong PURPOSE right-doing hurting secretly suspect very drinking attractiveness Since kick_back fruitlessly difficulties how_about preference gall embracement belonging assembly ensuing boiled grandchildren circuits prolix eunuchs lustful overflow bowels firmly you'll_see Would swoon allaying sleeping harmonious satiety mazes Bouverie There greatest manifoldness helpful Treasury indigested diversely debtors subjoinedst Tajikistan purposes Justina nourishment over_the_top schedule scantling infancy's Blessedness hey_thats_right Sacraments snares combine title vestige recall birdlime top physic tends rudely sixth celebration ---- God says... 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. ---- That's about Github. 24/7 God says... church pitied ANYTHING functions contrition strengtheneth Whosoever hungering concluded flower characters maimed finest waters attracts Eating Fish true free-will means Master peace-makers purposing behind world's Medea vehement towards gushed joking aught dew nilled fellow-sinners NO Guide ---- God doesn't want to say favorite city. Let's do country shit-list. God says... abnormal because_I_said_so Enough do_you_know_what_time_it_is bastard hurts_my_head ---- Pizza kinda strange. God says... Rwanda that's_no_fun thats_laughable oh_come_on Germany Uzbekistan how_come HolySpirit radio delightful repeat_after_me if_and_only_if how_goes_it Obama foul how's_the_weather Hicc_up yuck wastoid Pakistan hotel Cote_d_Ivoire it_was_nothing do_you_know_what_time_it_is yada_yada_yada smack_some_sense_into_you Wales umm_the_other_answer why_didn'_you_tell_me where's_the_love Terry France now_you_tell_me thank_you_very_much Lithuania BRB Yawn it's_hopeless ---- Any engineers in the Bible? Do You love engineers, God? God says... 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. 22:11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. ---- Russian soldiers used to shower once a week. Russians want to take part in Rome-Sweet-Rome? God says... the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 7:5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. --- Migs. (God laughed) God says... ehh_a_wise_guy goodly compare willed soul's punctuation Victorinus infringement hardheartedness folded transcription dawn fat moderate elements killed door Artificer opened noble prevailed concerns READ divination sacrificed fable neatly ignoble two observes spoil accord shop excellent whichsoever long fragrance beggar-man seduced ran Reason arguments All-creating email directing settling recesses Passing kindled speech smiling Madness authors aforetime respite extended Vindicianus parties hello

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

shuaib 14y ago

Still reading, but before I forget to ask: "It’s a junior engineer mistake to toss insults about a piece of complex technology in 140 characters." Does everyone agree with that? I have seen many senior engineers, specially in open source world, who aren't afraid to use the 'F word' publicly to insult a technology, or even an organisation (Linus vs. Nvidia?). Does an engineer really have to be super formal in how he talks online? Isn't it fun to be a bit more open at times than what 'maturity' requires?

mgkimsal 14y ago
Perhaps better stated, it's a mistake for a junior engineer to do so.
lysol 14y ago
Sure, it's more fun, but you won't get a bad reputation for refraining from disparaging others and others' creations. That said, I'm just as terrible as the next guy.
JoachimSchipper 14y ago
Linus does that. Norvig doesn't appear to tweet at all. Both of these seem appropriate.
orangethirty 14y ago
Linus is a special case. When your work powers most of the computers out there, I guess you can say fuck all you want. Plus its not like he goes around saying fuck to everybody. Its to the people that piss him off. He is a target for assholes because insecure little bitches will always try and prove him wrong. Its part of the culture around computers. But hey, if it wasnt for him I would be using Windows. So fuck anyone who doesnt like the way Linus talks.

edw519 14y ago

"A new idea comes suddenly and in a rather intuitive way, but intuition is nothing but the outcome of earlier intellectual experience." - Albert Einstein I've always thought that "earlier intellectual experience" was a necessary but not sufficient condition to extraordinary work. Each of us gets there in our own time frame.

RyanZAG 14y ago

" Mature engineers know that no matter how complete, elegant, or superior their designs are, it won’t matter if no one wants to work alongside them because they are assholes. " I've worked with some assholes that could easily be referred to as mature engineers. Being assholes or not wanting to work alongside them didn't really detract all that much as they could get the job done and there was a lot to learn from them. I'm not sure the author is correct about personality being a part of a senior engineer - or a senior executive - as far too many of those seem to be assholes by definition!

adminonymous 14y ago
Agreed. Few people here or elsewhere discuss the role of so-called "politics" in the workplace. You may be referring to those who resort to more than their engineering skills to get ahead, sometimes ruthlessly.

taf2 14y ago

maybe in the next generation of engineering we'll stop trying to classify our engineering abilities and focus on the building of things in front of us. We'll accept that it doesn't matter how long we've been doing something (because we've all not been doing this very long) and we'll realize that even someone who just started at the "keys" has something for us to learn... (warm and fuzzy)... at the end of the day we have a shared goal "get it done"(ahmen) - mature engineeer :P

kabdib 14y ago

> No one should be allowed to avoid the issue by the old formula, “I can’t give a promise because it depends upon so many uncertain factors.” STRONGLY disagree. I've worked on projects where: - Getting a stable build might take four hours (minimum) to several weeks (depending on churn); - Processes for adding components were undocumented magic, and very nearly undebuggable; - Components might take days or weeks to propagate, once you were finally able to make changes to them. Debugging is a similar story. Some bugs are nasty, horrible, complex things that take a lot of time. I've seen showstopper-class kernel level bugs take months to find. The nature of interactions at the hardware / software interface is unbelievably complicated. So what does a "senior" engineer do? - Communicate the nature of the problems in a non-whiny way. - Give responsible estimates. "Three days or a month" is honest, if you say why. - DON'T promise results that you can't actually deliver. - Be prepared to have features cut, and to have conversations about things that you consider less than optimal ("sucky") for the customer. Naturally, your senior engineer is also trying to improve the sucky situation the whole team finds itself in (with better tools, build processes, whatever), but some situations are intractable.

kabdib 14y ago
I'll add a little. I do see this a lot in less experienced engineers. "I can't tell you when X will be done." On the other side, I see people promise stuff they can't possibly deliver (due to pressure from management, or simple optimism, or plain cluelessness about the difficulty of a problem). So part of a senior engineer's job is to notice when someone is making bad estimates and correcting the issue. This can range from simple conversation with the engineer, to diving in and helping out, to getting someone transferred or terminated for unfixable cluelessness. Some good tools: - Socratic method. "What don't you know? Can you figure it out?" Repeat. Also, deep examination of base assumptions ("Are you /sure/ you know XXX? Let's dig into that for a bit.") - Crap shield. "Look, leave Figby alone for a few days until he works this out. It'll give him confidence and make him a better engineer." - Crap generator (use this sparingly). "What that guy is doing just isn't very hard, and he's not doing a good job. Have one of ours do it instead, and have your guy do something else." Bring ironclad evidence to the table on this one, because this conversation usually precipitates a firing. The old saw of "Good. Fast. Cheap. Pick two." is so over-used, but it is /so/ damned true. We've been engineering bridges for thousands of years, and we have a pretty good handle on what makes a good bridge. In software, I've come to think of the engineers /as/ the bridges, and we can't engineer a better engineer yet.