Staff Engineer: Leadership beyond the management track Paperback – January 31, 2021

Great book for someone considering the path into staff engineer!

One of the few books I have read that start to talk about the indeterministic role of Staff Software engineers. Not a silver bullet, but at least gives a few places to start your journey or at least smooth it out a little.

As someone who has been working as a Staff Engineer for several years, this book answered several important questions I had about my role and expectations. Moreover, it clarified things that I've observed (about operating at Staff level), that I didn't understand until now.I wish I have read this book sooner, earlier in my career. FYI, I have both the print and Audible versions.This is not a book about engineering management, and it is not about coding or project management. If that's the mindset you are coming from, this book will disappoint.If you are interested in knowing what comes after a Senior engineering level (whether you are a senior or junior developer), and how to operate at that level and beyond, this is the book for you.There's a certain "filtering" that comes with this topic since engineering positions that come after Senior-levels only occur in mature companies that 1) are sufficiently large, 2) are product or service oriented (not limited to web/IT support to other businesses) and 3) are likely to have substantial IP and patents.I would still recommend this book even for engineers working at firms to do match these criteria, since it covers significant material on how to operate efficiently as a team lead.

So many golden tidbits, buy the book 📕

very comprehensive, well researched book that has guided a generation of senior and staff engineer. as a senior manager, it guides me how to approach and manage my senior IC better

The book is great but there are too many anecdotes and stories rather than focusing on what matters which are the concepts and things that might make you grow into a staff engineer. The book could be shorter tbh but overall a good read

As an staff engineer myself, having an external perspective of what does the role entitles in other organizations has been tremendously valuable. Some of the guides or initial chapters are very practical but I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the experiences of some of my colleagues in other companies.Highly recommended to anyone looking beginning a staff engineer or to someone that wants to check areas of personal growth

I’m sure you get this from a lot of readers. Please add my thanks to the long list and know it is very heartfelt. The collection of interviews were very diverse, and truly helped me see various ways the Staff Engineer role can be viewed in various places. I wish I had read them first perhaps I’d have spent less than 3 months completing the book. It was quite hard getting through the initial chapters. Suggestion: print as 2 different books and keep the interviews rolling in! I’m definitely recommending this!!