Engineering hasn't become easier, writing code has just become faster. Time to stop fighting symptoms and start thinking in systems. In this Q&A, I break down the career advice I'd give to any engineer, from mastering architecture to knowing when to quit a high-paying job.
In this episode, we cover:
- How "Systems Thinking" can be applied in practice
- The "Golden Handcuffs": Why high salaries keep engineers in toxic jobs
- How to transition into leadership without waiting for a title
Timestamps
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:58 - How to innovate in stubborn legacy companies
00:04:49 - The "Golden Handcuffs": Money vs. Mental Health
00:07:27 - Stop solving symptoms: Systems Thinking explained
00:13:10 - Transitioning from Senior Engineer to Solutions Architect
00:15:08 - Communicating technical risks to non-technical bosses
00:17:48 - Proving leadership before you have the title
00:22:25 - My strategy for dealing with Imposter Syndrome
00:26:12 - Creating a "Zettelkasten" to retain technical knowledge
00:29:12 - The mindset that makes me stress-proof at work
00:33:10 - Learning to code with a product/design background
00:38:40 - Working with international remote teams
00:40:35 - Career Pivot: Software Engineering to Cyber Security
00:43:20 - Solopreneur opportunities in the "Education Gold Rush"
00:51:50 - Future Predictions: Vibe Coding vs. Vibe Engineering
#SoftwareEngineering #CareerAdvice #SystemsThinking