# The Software Engineering Times Become the next generation of software engineering leadership and level up as a current engineering leader with weekly insights. This is one page of public article previews, not the complete archive. Follow Next page to continue. Summaries are not the original full articles. ## How To Lead Engineers Who Don't Report To You DevFeed: [How To Lead Engineers Who Don't Report To You]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2026-08-09T17:17:21Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [Software Engineering](), [engineering-culture](), [Development]() Tags: [engineering](), [how-to](), [management](), [software-engineering]() ### AI overview The article explains why leading engineers without formal reporting authority is especially difficult for tech leads and individual contributors. It argues that they must lead through influence rather than authority and introduces five bases of power--reward, coercion, legitimate, referent, and expert--as a framework for understanding why people follow a request. ### Source excerpt This is about leading engineers, but the first sentence will piss a lot of people off. ## Why Engineers May Hesitate to Move Into Management DevFeed: [Why Engineers May Hesitate to Move Into Management]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2026-06-08T07:31:11Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [Development](), [Programming]() Tags: [career](), [programming]() ### AI overview A guest post reflects on why an engineer may resist management: coding offers fast feedback and direct control, while developing people has slower and less direct rewards. ### Source excerpt Guest post by Sean Cooper, Your Dev Team Coach. ## Career milestones do not eliminate imposter feelings DevFeed: [Career milestones do not eliminate imposter feelings]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2026-05-26T14:54:23Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [Job](), [Development](), [Object-oriented programming (OOP)]() Tags: [fraud](), [interviews](), [junior](), [money]() ### AI overview The author reflects on progressing from a low-paid first technology job to greater earnings, recognizable company names, speaking engagements, and a larger audience. The article argues that imposter feelings persist despite career milestones and that they may change focus rather than disappear. ### Source excerpt I turned down interviews at Meta, Apple, Reddit, Microsoft and Amazon. The voice in my head still tells me I don't belong. ## A field guide for software engineers and changes to The Software Engineering Times DevFeed: [A field guide for software engineers and changes to The Software Engineering Times]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2026-05-13T11:00:18Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [Software Engineering](), [Development]() Tags: [engineering](), [guide](), [software-engineering]() ### AI overview The author announces a 24-page e-book about non-technical skills for software engineers, available free to paid subscribers. The article also announces permanently free weekly articles, revised paid pricing and subscriber benefits. ### Source excerpt Free articles, forever. Plus a new field guide and a few other things. ## How AI and Claude Code Are Changing Promotion Paths for Software Engineers DevFeed: [How AI and Claude Code Are Changing Promotion Paths for Software Engineers]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2026-05-12T11:58:46Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [Artificial Intelligence](), [Claude Code](), [Code]() Tags: [ai](), [claude-code](), [code](), [promotion]() ### AI overview This opinion article argues that AI-assisted coding tools such as Claude Code reduce coding output as a differentiator for engineers seeking promotion. It says advancement beyond senior roles increasingly depends on enabling other engineers and scaling impact rather than only individual contribution. ### Source excerpt They aren't being replaced. They're being passed over. There's a difference. ## I Asked 30+ Engineering Leaders at Apple, Amazon, GitHub and Sony What Junior Engineers Should Do About AI. Here's What They Said. DevFeed: [I Asked 30+ Engineering Leaders at Apple, Amazon, GitHub and Sony What Junior Engineers Should Do About AI. Here's What They Said.]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2026-05-05T17:03:50Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [Code](), [GitHub]() Tags: [advice](), [engineering](), [github](), [junior]() ### AI overview The article reports that senior engineers and engineering leaders mostly advised junior engineers to build reliability, ask questions, find mentors, avoid burnout, and learn fundamentals rather than focus primarily on AI. ### Source excerpt I expected most of the advice to be about AI. Almost none of it was. ## Signs That an Engineer May Be Planning to Leave DevFeed: [Signs That an Engineer May Be Planning to Leave]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2026-04-17T10:02:43Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [engineering-leadership](), [engineering-culture](), [Code review]() Tags: [engineering-leadership](), [opinions](), [quality](), [team]() ### AI overview The article discusses observable signs that an engineer may be disengaging and considering leaving, including reduced input, less challenge to decisions, lower participation in future planning, and less investment in work quality. ### Source excerpt Most engineers decide to quit long before they tell anyone. Here is what to watch for. ## Tech Lead vs Engineering Manager. Which Path Is Right for You? DevFeed: [Tech Lead vs Engineering Manager. Which Path Is Right for You?]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2026-04-07T15:33:44Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [Tech Lead](), [engineering-leadership](), [Job]() Tags: [career](), [engineering-leadership](), [leadership](), [tech-lead]() ### AI overview This article compares the Tech Lead and Engineering Manager career paths, explaining that they are separate routes rather than steps on a single ladder. It also notes that both paths generally involve becoming less hands-on over time and that engineers can change direction later. ### Source excerpt Most engineers assume it's a one way ladder. It isn't. ## How Managers Can Develop Team Leadership Through Meeting Delegation DevFeed: [How Managers Can Develop Team Leadership Through Meeting Delegation]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2025-07-14T12:00:13Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [meetings](), [decision-making](), [trust](), [real-time]() Tags: [coaching](), [decision-making](), [leadership](), [manager](), [meetings](), [real-time](), [retro](), [support](), [sync](), [trust]() ### AI overview This opinion article argues that managers should avoid leading every meeting and instead give team members opportunities to run standups, retrospectives, and stakeholder syncs. It recommends providing preparation support, staying available, and debriefing afterward to develop independent leaders and reduce managerial burnout. ### Source excerpt Let's just say it straight. If you're the one leading every single meeting, you're either inexperienced, insecure, or haven't been shown how to be a real manager yet. If that stings a little, that's okay. Maybe it should. There are a few exceptions. Sure, incidents. Maybe a gnarly stakeholder review or a performance conversation. But even in those high-stakes moments, there's usually room to coach. Let someone else run the show. As long as someone is clear on decision-making, you don't need to be the one running the room every time. That's not what good leadership looks like. Good leadership is about building people who can do the job without you. Why You Keep Grabbing the Mic Most managers hog the meetings for one of a few reasons: It's faster if I do it They're not ready yet What if they mess it up? I'll be blamed if it goes wrong I'm the one accountable If that sounds like you, you're not alone. I've heard them all before. I've said a few of them too, early in my career. But you need to realise what those excuses are actually saying to your team: You're not ready. I don't trust you. I don't care enough to help you grow. Not great. What It Looks Like to Coach Instead This isn't about disappearing. It's not about sitting out. It's not delegating and walking away. It's about showing up differently. Coaching in real time. Supporting from the side, not from the front. Let them lead the standup. Let them chair the retro. Let them run the stakeholder sync. Then debrief. What worked? What would you do differently next time? What was hard? That's coaching. That's how they get better. That's how you build a team that can do hard things without you steering every move. The Real Reason You're Still Leading Everything Sometimes, it's not about fear. It's about ego. If everything runs through you If you always need to be in the room If you secretly like being the person with the answers That's ego. It's not sustainable. It's not leadership. It's how you end up with a team that ## Your Career Is Stuck Because You're a Doer, Not an Owner DevFeed: [Your Career Is Stuck Because You're a Doer, Not an Owner]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2025-06-02T08:20:06Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [Job](), [Code]() Tags: [business-value](), [career](), [growth](), [job](), [leadership](), [projects](), [skills]() ### AI overview This opinion article argues that developers can advance their careers by acting as owners rather than doers. It contrasts completing assigned tasks with taking initiative, asking questions, anticipating problems, improving systems, and focusing on business outcomes. ### Source excerpt Want growth? Use those do'er skills and change your mindset ## Should You Stay In Your Current Job or Move For A Promotion? DevFeed: [Should You Stay In Your Current Job or Move For A Promotion?]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ryan Murphy Published: 2024-11-07T08:15:43Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [The Software Engineering Times]() Topics: [Job](), [Software Engineering]() Tags: [cons](), [job](), [software-engineering]() ### AI overview The article compares internal and external promotions, outlining the benefits and challenges of staying with a current employer versus moving to a new company. It discusses familiarity, existing relationships, visibility, and prior achievements as advantages of internal promotion, while framing the choice around individual career goals. ### Source excerpt There are a lot of pros and cons when trying to weigh up if you should stay in your current role or look for a new one, for example when looking for a promotion, or a pay increase.