Latest
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Need-to-know tactics for managing up successfully
Managing up can be difficult – even more so when you have a distant leader. Here’s how to make the best out of the situation.
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How to push back when execs are all-in on AI
When AI is seemingly everywhere, how can you make sure your org takes thoughtful steps?
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Who is going to fill the engineering leadership vacuum?
As the tech industry continues its assault on middle management, staff engineers are being asked to step up.
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A smarter way to evaluate LLM applications
LLM evaluations are the ultimate quality gate for your product.
Editor’s picks
What is a staff engineer? Technical leaders who aren’t managers
Staff engineers are technical leaders who have deep domain knowledge, walking the line between tech and the business.
Prices for all New York conferences increase on Monday, August 25 ⏰
Essential reading
Who are staff, principal, and distinguished engineers?
Understand the differences between staff, principal, and distinguished engineers. Job description and salaries included.
On our StaffPlus playlist
How to master the four Staff archetypes and elevate your impact
While the specifics of the job can vary widely, Will Larson has famously categorized the Staff+ experience into four archetypes: Tech Lead, Architect, Solver, and the Right Hand.
Understanding the role as a Staff engineer
How to define, develop and deliver in your role on the technical track.
How to balance technical direction and leadership work
But as is often the case in business, priorities constantly shift and where you focus your efforts will too. So how do you strike the right balance between working on the technical direction of the business and those tasks that require you to put your leadership hat on?
Start with an exit in mind: How to be effective by being selfish as a staff engineer
Staff engineers often get overwhelmed by long-term ownership of critical projects. This talk explores how to avoid burnout by starting every project with an exit strategy—whether transferring ownership, pausing or bootstrapping a team.
Agendas for New York events are live!
Lineup includes Addy Osmani, Kevin Goldsmith, Robin Bonatesta, and more…
New York • October 15 & 16, 2025
More for Staff engineers
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Learning to trust generative AI
Love it or loathe it, engineering leaders have to learn to live with generative AI, but can you ever really trust the model?
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Understanding the ‘Cambrian explosion of generative AI tools’
And other themes from the latest Thoughtworks’ Technology Radar
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Breaking down the WordPress drama
A dispute has riven the WordPress community in half, how does this impact developers?
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What US engineering managers can expect to earn in 2025
Here’s what senior developers and engineering managers in the United States can expect to earn in base salary during 2025 and beyond.
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Build a productive code review culture
Code reviews can be tense and stressful if done incorrectly. Avoid bikeshedding and set good cultural standards with these nine simple steps.
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Engineering leadership is not just about code
If you’re looking to move into an engineering leadership position, you’ll have to do more than brush up on code!
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Influencing influencers: Powerful strategies to scale your impact at work
If you looking to widen the breadth of your impact, you’ll want to brush up on some of these areas to see the best results.
Videos for Staff engineers
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Everything you always wanted to know about game engines
Learn how to leverage game engines like Unity and Unreal to accelerate innovation in AI, robotics, simulation, and beyond
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A quick tour of delivery management (and why it matters)
What senior leaders mean by “delivery management,” why it matters, and how to improve it with practical tools and techniques.
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From autocomplete to agents: AI coding assistance state of play
Everybody wants high reliability, but the path isn’t exactly clear. This talk is for people who need to know what works and what doesn’t.
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Y2K: The bug that didn’t bite
Unearthing the lessons of Y2K to avoid future coding catastrophes and build more sustainable software.
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How to zoom out (and when to stop)
A practical guide for engineers and new engineering leaders on expanding their scope effectively, recognizing when to change their perspective, and maintaining the right balance between strategic thinking and technical depth.
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Dressing to the 9s
Everybody wants high reliability, but the path isn’t exactly clear. This talk is for people who need to know what works and what doesn’t.
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Going all-in on data products
Explore how a development team fully embraced building a data product alongside their new operational product.
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Getting excited about maintaining legacy systems
Learn how maintaining legacy systems builds real-world skills in debugging, system thinking, and mentoring others effectively.
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Documentation and AI: How to write right now
Think AI can handle your documentation? Sometimes. This talk breaks down where it helps, where it doesn’t, and what still needs the human touch.
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A safe place to land: Practical (and hyper-scale tested) advice for technical decision-making while evolving systems in place
Practical strategies for evolving systems at hyperscale while balancing innovation, stability, and reliability – featuring real-world insights from Fastly.
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Accessibility needs better marketing
Web accessibility is seen as a chore, something to suffer through. This view ignores the needs of people with disabilities and diminishes their worth as humans and worthy customers. How do we change the process?
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Fast, informed, impactful: How to master decision-making
Master the art of efficient decision-making and turn slow, ineffective engineering decisions into a powerful competitive advantage.