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The Pragmatic Engineer
Promotions and tooling at Google (with Irina Stanescu, Ex-Google)
Nov 6, 2024
In this discussion, Irina Stanescu, a seasoned engineer formerly with Google and Uber, shares her insights as an engineering leadership coach. She provides a behind-the-scenes look at Google’s rigorous engineering culture and emphasizes the importance of design documents. Irina offers tactical tips for new engineers on building credibility and advancing careers, detailing her own promotion journey and challenges faced. Additionally, she differentiates between influence and merely having influence, outlining essential skills that engineers need to develop for success in large tech organizations.
58:52
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Quick takeaways
- Google's structured approach to design documentation fosters collaboration and clarity, contrasting with Uber's more flexible practices that prioritize speed over formality.
- Navigating promotions at large tech firms requires clear impact demonstration and an understanding of the multi-tiered evaluation processes integral to career growth.
Deep dives
Internal Tooling Comparisons: Google vs. Uber
The contrast between internal tooling at Google and Uber is significant, with Google providing a more advanced array of tools and systems. Engineers were accustomed to a culture where design documentation was mandatory, and projects required thorough planning before execution. For instance, the speaker recalls how a lack of design documents at Uber was seen as an exception rather than the norm, whereas at Google, having a design document was essential for collaboration. This cultural difference highlighted the shock encountered by engineers transitioning from one platform to another, emphasizing the structured approach at Google compared to Uber's more flexible but less formalized processes.
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Discover
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