How to become a staff+ engineer

Summary

The webinar panel discussion, centered on the journey to becoming a Staff Plus Engineer, offered a wealth of insights from various industry professionals. Key takeaways included the importance of understanding the specific requirements and expectations for the staff title at one's company, the value of having a sponsor or mentor to guide and support the promotion process, and the necessity of demonstrating staff-level work before receiving the promotion. Panelists emphasized the need for continuous hands-on experience with coding, even as one advances into leadership roles, to maintain a grounded perspective and effectively address business needs. Additionally, they highlighted the significance of soft skills, such as communication and mentorship, alongside technical expertise. The discussion underscored the importance of setting technical direction, making impactful decisions, and balancing hard skills with soft skills to successfully navigate the path to senior engineering roles.

Takeaways

• 📈 **Demonstrate Staff-Level Work:** Before being promoted, consistently perform work that aligns with the expectations of a staff engineer, showing initiative and taking on extra responsibilities.
• 🤝 **Find a Sponsor:** Identify a mentor or manager who can support and guide you through the promotion process, offering valuable feedback and visibility within the organization.
• 🔍 **Set Technical Direction:** Develop the ability to set the technical direction for projects, which is crucial for staff engineers as they make decisions on behalf of the company.
• 💡 **Identify Business-Aligned Opportunities:** Look for opportunities that solve business problems and drive impact, which can be a strong indicator of your readiness for a staff role.
• 👥 **Promote Diversity and Inclusion:** Recognize the value of diverse perspectives in leadership roles, which can lead to better problem-solving and decision-making.
• 📝 **Maintain Coding Practice:** Even as you move into more senior roles, continue to code to stay connected to the realities of engineering work and maintain a clear understanding of business needs.
• ⏰ **Manage Time Effectively:** Set boundaries to protect your time for deep work and strategic thinking, which are critical for a staff engineer's role.
• 📋 **Be Transparent with Your Work:** Share your to-do list or work priorities openly to communicate your focus, increase accountability, and invite collaboration.
• 🚀 **Take Initiative on Large Projects:** Show your ability to lead by taking charge of significant projects that have a broad impact across teams or the entire organization.
• 🧩 **Build Relationships Across the Organization:** Networking and building relationships with colleagues in different departments can lead to a better understanding of cross-departmental needs and opportunities.
• 🗣️ **Communication is Key:** Improve your communication skills, including listening and tailoring your message to different audiences, to increase your influence and effectiveness as a leader.

Q & A

What is the general duration of the webinar on becoming a staff plus engineer?

The webinar is designed to last roughly 45 minutes.

How does one become a staff engineer according to Alex?

Alex became a staff engineer by starting as a developer, gradually expanding his skills to include front-end and back-end development, learning about SRE, and growing into the role through platform engineering and influencing across teams.

What is the importance of visibility in the journey to becoming a staff engineer?

Visibility is crucial as it helps others in the organization to start seeing the individual as a leader. This can be achieved by leading projects or through a collection of small, impactful actions.

Why is having a sponsor important for promotion to staff engineer?

A sponsor, typically one's manager, provides support, feedback, and general guidance on how to achieve the next level of promotion. They can also advocate for the individual during the promotion process.

What is DTI's insight on what it takes for someone to learn and earn a promotion?

DTI observed that initiative is key. In one case, a report identified a problem with the permissions model and took the lead in refactoring it, demonstrating the ability to drive significant change and business value.

What advice does Alex give for someone preparing for interviews for a staff engineer role?

Alex advises doing the work with or without the title and focusing on demonstrating the skills and experiences from past jobs that align with the expectations of the staff level at the new company.

What are the similarities between the roles of a staff engineer and a senior staff engineer?

Both roles focus on high-impact work, are expected to lead others to accomplish goals, and help unblock teams when they encounter obstacles.

How does the influence scope differ between a staff engineer and a senior staff engineer?

The influence scope increases for a senior staff engineer, potentially spanning multiple areas within the engineering organization, and may involve assessing the company's position in the marketplace and guiding executive decisions.

Why is diversity important in leadership roles, and what is the role of inclusion?

Diversity brings different ideas and experiences to the table, which is critical for solving novel problems. Inclusion ensures that diverse individuals are actively involved in discussions and decision-making, maximizing the benefits of diversity.

Why should staff engineers continue to code even after promotion?

Continuing to code helps staff engineers stay connected to the realities of the work, identify optimizations and risks, and maintain credibility and relevance within the engineering team.

What strategies can staff engineers use to balance their time between coding and meeting demands?

Strategies include setting office hours, making appointments, and protecting time for deep thought and coding. It's also important to set boundaries and be clear about when they are available.