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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Episode guests

Irina Stanescu

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Episode notes

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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.

Developing relationships and fostering collaboration are essential strategies for engineers to enhance their influence and establish credibility within their teams.

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.

Intro

2min

Project Management and Development Processes at Google Fiber

2min

The Evolution of Design Documentation in Engineering

5min

Navigating Product Readiness at Tech Giants

9min

Navigating Promotions at Google

12min

Navigating Promotions: Insights from Google and Uber

12min

The Power of Influence in Tech

17min

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In today’s episode of The Pragmatic Engineer, I’m joined by Irina Stanescu, a seasoned engineer with over 14 years in software engineering and engineering leadership roles at tech companies like Google and Uber. Now an engineering leadership coach, Irina helps tech professionals build impactful careers, teaches a course on influence, and shares insights through her newsletter, The Caring Techie. In our conversation today, Irina shares her journey of rising through the ranks at Google and Uber. We dive into the following topics:

• An inside look at Google’s unique working processes

• How to build credibility as a new engineer

• Tactical tips for getting promoted

• The importance of having a career plan and guidance in designing one

• Having influence vs. influencing—and how to become more influential

• Essential leadership skills to develop

• And so much more

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In this episode, we cover:

(01:34) Irina’s time at Google

(03:10) An overview of ‘design docs’ at Google

(08:27) The readiness review at Google