StaffEng
Amy Unger (GitHub)
Jun 1, 2021
Amy Unger from GitHub discusses her transition from academic programming to for-profit tech, the differences between tech lead and deep diver roles, trade-offs in engineering projects, and the importance of value and service ethic in developer tooling. She shares insights on managing rushed feature requests, navigating product failings, mentoring, balancing coding with non-coding work, and learning from peers in a male-dominated environment.
36:03
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Staff engineers roles vary across organizations, from tech leads to deep divers focusing on specific expertise areas.
- Balancing organizational and project-specific responsibilities is crucial for staff engineers at GitHub, emphasizing aligning tasks with departmental goals and fostering mentorship.
Deep dives
Role of Staff Engineers at GitHub
There is no standard set of expectations for staff engineers at GitHub, varying across each organization. Common patterns include roles similar to tech leads and deep divers, focusing on specific expertise areas like git systems. The tech lead archetype is a frequent role at GitHub, emphasizing clear wins and immediate value delivery, whereas deep divers tackle larger problems over more extended periods.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
