I’ve spoken to more software engineers in the last 5 weeks than the previous 5 years.
These conversations revealed some fascinating patterns and unexpected insights about the current state of engineering culture, mindsets, and career trajectories.
Table of Contents
The Two Engineering Archetypes
There are 2 core archetypes.
The lifestyle coder working in big tech, who rests & vests. And the cracked builder, who’s pulling 14 hour days, pounding celsius, and working on multiple things.
Risk Tolerance (Or Lack Thereof)
Most engineers are extremely risk averse.
Despite working in an industry known for disruption, many prefer the security of established roles over entrepreneurial ventures.
Three AI Relationships
There were 3 types of relationships engineers have with AI.
The purist who poo-poos at AI, the maximalist who has 5x’d their output, and the AI-intrigued, who’s a 3/10 on AI usage today.
10x Engineer Phenomenon
10x engineers don’t understand what fine engineers do all day.
The productivity gap creates not just different output levels but fundamentally different perspectives on what engineering work even looks like.
Mercenaries vs. Missionaries
There are mercenaries & missionaries.
Mercenaries are optimizing for compensation & career growth.
Missionaries are optimizing for purpose & impact.
Both approaches can lead to success, but they represent profoundly different career paths.
Exclusive Club Mentality
Engineering is just like any elite social club.
There’s a shared language that separates “us” from “them.”
Many folks in the club have no interest/incentive to make the club more accessible to outsiders.
Misaligned Incentives
Most companies are not incentivizing engineers to maximize their output.
They’re incentivizing engineers to stretch product roadmaps as long as possible, chill, and collect a fat paycheck.
Traits of Top Performers
The best engineers had a few core attributes:
- Their output is orders of magnitude greater than their peers
- They don’t fear AI, they fear not using it enough
- They’re wildly open to inviting “non-technicals” to the party
- They’re incredible at explaining complex topics simply
The Entrepreneurial Shift
Early engineering hires are more incentivized than ever to start their own companies.
If they join an early stage startup they take on almost 100% of the risk with 1/100th of the upside.
Conclusion
These insights suggest we’re at an inflection point in software engineering culture.
The gap between different types of engineers is widening, while AI adoption is creating new potential for productivity disruption.
Those who embrace change, champion inclusion, and align themselves with high-impact work will likely shape the next generation of technology development.