Tech Lead Journal
#190 - The Staff+ Engineer’s Journey: Unlocking the Secrets of Staff+ Impact - Thiago Ghisi
Sep 9, 2024
Thiago Ghisi, an engineering leader and Director of Engineering at Nubank, dives deep into the world of Staff+ engineers. He discusses the vital attributes that differentiate successful Staff+ engineers, emphasizing high impact, strategic planning, and ownership. Thiago shares insights on the importance of soft skills like stakeholder management and highlights the role of mentors over checklists in career growth. He also reflects on his own journey from development to leadership, showcasing how real-world experiences shape effective engineers.
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Quick takeaways
- Successful Staff+ engineers need to possess a high blast radius impact that spans across multiple teams and projects.
- Effective multi-scale planning and stakeholder management are crucial for aligning engineering initiatives with broader organizational goals.
Deep dives
Core Expectations of a Staff Engineer
A staff engineer is expected to have a high blast radius of impact, demonstrate multi-scale planning abilities, and exhibit a proactive level of ownership. The concept of 'blast radius' refers to the scope and depth of an engineer's influence within the organization, signifying that their work should significantly impact not only one feature but multiple aspects across teams or departments. Staff engineers should also engage in strategic planning, aligning their efforts with organizational goals rather than merely focusing on technology for technology's sake. Lastly, they should take ownership by identifying problems and proposing solutions rather than waiting for assignments from others.
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