Life as a Distinguished Engineer | Joakim Recht (Uber)

Life as a Distinguished Engineer | Joakim Recht (Uber)

Author: Ronak Nathani, Guang Yang April 30, 2024 Duration: 1:15:43

Out of thousands of engineers at Uber, there's only a handful of Distinguished Engineers and Joakim was one of them. In this conversation we chat about

  • Why software engineering is a lot like a sausage factory.

  • Considerations for leaving big tech for a startup.

  • "How to beat the promo commitee".

  • How can one effectively shape engineering culture?

  • "Mentoring two people on the same team is a waste".

  • Much More.

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Segments:

[0:01:52] The "reverse sausage" architecture

[0:07:36] How to get people on board with the new deployment system?

[0:13:55] What does it mean to be a distinguished engineer?

[0:17:47] Under-appreciated soft skills?

[0:21:28] How to improve technical writing

[0:24:16] Do all senior engineers need to write and review code every day?

[0:30:19] How to search out where to contribute when your time is so constrained?

[0:43:10] How to maximize your impact as a mentor

[0:48:52] "How to beat the promo committee"

[0:52:56] Effective means to influence engineering culture?

[0:57:09] Capping the company at 150 employees

[1:03:33] Why join a startup instead of moving to another big tech company?

[1:11:14] What Joakim is working on now at Beyond Work

 

Show Notes:

 

Stay in touch:

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Behind every line of code, there's a person with a story, and that's where Software Misadventures finds its pulse. Hosts Ronak Nathani and Guang Yang pull up a chair with engineers, founders, and investors, but the conversation rarely stays in the technical manual. Instead, it wanders into the human territory of career detours, hard-won insights, and those unpredictable stumbles that often teach the most. This podcast is built on the idea that the journey is just as important as the destination, especially in the fast-moving tech world. You'll hear guests recount the projects that went sideways, the decisions they'd rethink, and the moments of clarity that emerged from the chaos. It’s a refreshingly honest look at the industry, emphasizing that expertise isn't just about what you build, but what you learn when things don't go as planned. Tune in for conversations that are less about perfect solutions and more about the real, sometimes messy, process of creating with technology. Each episode offers a blend of professional wisdom and personal narrative, making it a compelling listen for anyone curious about the lives woven into our digital landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 55

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