A Life Engineered

In this conversation, Philip Su, a Senior Software Engineer and entrepreneur with a history at Meta and Microsoft, discusses the troubling implications of AI on engineering jobs. He candidly warns that many developers may struggle to compete with AI in the coming decade. While he foresees companies opting for efficiency, he also emphasizes the ongoing value of top engineers and the importance of mastering AI tools. Additionally, he touches on the necessity for fair automation rules, the future of human-AI collaboration, and his motivations behind creating the Superphonic podcast player.

Ethan Evans, a former Amazon VP who helped launch Prime Video and Twitch, shares his journey from coding to leadership. He opens up about career disasters and failures, including an unforgettable mistake in front of Jeff Bezos. Ethan emphasizes the importance of building a network and the hidden value of personal connections in shaping careers. He challenges the misconceptions around risk-taking and discusses the personal sacrifices made in pursuit of ambition. This candid dialogue offers invaluable insights for emerging leaders.

In this engaging discussion, game programmer Casey Muratori shares his unique journey from a high-school internship at Microsoft to creating animation systems for major game franchises. He emphasizes the role of luck and mentorship in shaping tech careers and provides valuable advice for aspiring programmers, such as showcasing passion and building visibility. Casey critiques the pitfalls of 'clean code' and discusses the implications of AI on programming careers. His insights into personal and industry challenges make this a must-listen for tech enthusiasts.

Steve Yegge, a veteran software engineer renowned for his work at Amazon and Google, shares his visionary insights on the future of programming. He boldly states that traditional coding will soon be obsolete and introduces the concept of 'vibe coding,' an addictively dynamic approach to software development. Steve discusses the explosive rise of AI tools, the need for engineers to transition into team leads, and the implications of AI on job roles. He also emphasizes the importance of new education paths for future developers, promoting engineering judgment over mere coding skills.

Dave Anderson, a former Amazon director turned newsletter writer, shares his unconventional journey from failing high school theater to leading at Amazon. He reveals the surprising reasons behind Amazon's cultural decline and contrasts its rigorous promotion processes with Facebook's informal approach. Dave discusses his unique management style involving absurd ideas to spark creativity and reflects on the true cost of ambition in demanding corporate environments. He also shares his secrets to financial independence, having saved 85% of his income to retire early.

🎉 Big Announcement: Linear is now the presenting sponsor of A Life Engineered! We're thrilled to partner with Linear for the entire next year. Linear is the purpose-built tool for planning and building products - trusted by companies like OpenAI, Cursor, and Perplexity. Exclusive launch offer for our listeners: Get 6 months free of Linear Business (3 seats) to celebrate our partnership. 👉 Redeem at: https://linear.app/alehttps://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@NeetCode⁩ https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@NeetCodeIO⁩ https://neetcode.io/  Episode Description: Navdeep Singh (Neetcode) opens up about his devastating two-month stint at Amazon that led to unemployment and mental health struggles, before building a YouTube empire with over 1 million subscribers. We discuss the realities of Big Tech, why coding interviews persist, and whether AI will replace programmers.

Sundas Khalid, a principal analytical lead at Google and an influential data science educator, shares her inspiring journey from high school dropout to tech leader. She discusses her life-defining hospital stay that reignited her academic ambitions and how she learned English while parenting. Sundas reveals how social media helped her combat isolation and sparked her content creation. She also tackles the hidden costs of success, the importance of A/B testing, and the future of jobs in data amidst AI advancements, all while advocating for women in tech and the potential of the creator economy.

Linear is a purpose-built tool for planning and building products. Engineers at OpenAI, Brex, and CashApp love it because it's fast, friction-free, and keeps you focused on shipping. Get $250 off any plan at http://linear.app/partners/a-life-engineeredGergely Orosz walked away from engineering management at Uber to become tech's most influential newsletter writer. His Pragmatic Engineer newsletter reaches over 1 million readers—more than the population of San Francisco—making him the #1 tech writer on Substack.In this conversation, we dive deep into why junior developers can't get hired, what actually drives career growth, and his concept of "energy" as the hidden force that makes or breaks engineering teams.Key Topics Discussed:The IC vs Manager Decision (5:45)Gergely's journey: Principal → Senior Engineer at Uber (but 2x the comp)Why you should try management for 1-2 years (even if you hate it)The "insurance policy" of management experienceHow "failed managers" make the best staff engineersWhat Makes a Technical Manager (17:53)The Booking.com burnout storyWhy managers who can't code struggleAmazon's "dive deep" principle in practiceLearning distributed systems as a manager at UberThe Entry-Level Crisis (23:01)Why junior hiring has been down for 5 straight yearsThe "30% AI efficiency" trap destroying traditional entry pathsWhy GitHub is bucking the trend and hiring MORE juniorsPractical advice: Build apps that earn $1 from strangersCareer Growth Strategies (33:13)Step 1: Crush your current job (no shortcuts)Why your side projects might not help your promotionThe Venn diagram of personal growth vs company valueUnderstanding what actually drives business impactThe Energy Theory (41:39)Why OpenAI ships so fast (hint: it's not their process)Energy vs Process: What actually drives resultsThe Factorio principle of enjoying "boring" workHow high-energy teams blast through mistakesConnect with Gergely:Newsletter: https://pragmaticengineer.comBook: The Software Engineer's Guidebook - https://geni.us/uTUAyxPodcast: The Pragmatic Engineer Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@pragmaticengineer/podcasts