What if you could build a multi-million dollar software company where only 10% of your employees are developers? AFAS, a company with hundreds of millions in revenue, does exactly that with a lean team of just 70 engineers. In this episode, Engineering Manager Michiel Overeem pulls back the curtain on their unconventional strategies for achieving massive productivity with a surprisingly small team.In this episode, we cover:Why standardization is their secret weapon for efficiency.How they thrive without traditional Scrum ceremonies.The two distinct types of engineers they hire for success.The surprising details of their 4-day work week (paid for 5).This video is for engineering leaders and software developers who want to learn proven, counter-intuitive strategies to build hyper-effective teams and get more done, regardless of team size.Connect with Michiel:https://www.linkedin.com/in/movereemTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:22 - The "10% Engineering" Paradox at a €100M+ Company00:03:20 - How Standardization Allows a Small Team to Do More00:04:27 - The Two Types of Engineers Every Successful Company Needs00:06:46 - Why Feeling Responsible is More Powerful Than Being Responsible00:09:33 - The Secret Sauce of High-Performing Engineering Teams00:11:52 - A Simple Method to Keep Engineers Connected to Customers00:14:22 - What We Look For When Hiring New Engineers00:17:09 - The #1 Red Flag That Will Get You Rejected in an Interview00:19:33 - Why We Don't Use Scrum (And What We Do Instead)00:22:51 - The Power of Strong, Decisive Leadership00:24:13 - How Our 4-Day Work Week Actually Works00:26:55 - Our Approach to Adopting AI Tools like Copilot00:28:19 - Final Advice: The Best Way to Grow Your Career#EngineeringCulture #Productivity #SoftwareDevelopment
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28:52
How to Think About System Design (GitHub Engineer's Perspective)
System design interviews often focus on theoretical complexity, but how do Senior Engineers at GitHub actually approach scaling? In this episode, Bassem Dghaidi breaks down how to think about system design when real business impact is on the line.We discuss why "simple is complicated enough," the dangers of premature scaling, and why vertical scaling often beats complex distributed systems. If you want to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and understand how to design software that actually serves the business, this conversation is for you.In this episode, we cover:- The "Order of Magnitude" rule for scaling systems- Why GitHub often runs millions of requests on simple architecture- How to communicate technical constraints to non-technical stakeholders- Why 90% of Bassem's code is now written by AI agentsConnect with Bassem Dghaidi:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bassemdghaidyTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:00:48 - Theory vs. Practice in System Design00:02:06 - The Startup That Almost Failed via Kubernetes00:03:33 - How GitHub Scales (It's Simpler Than You Think)00:05:20 - The Underrated Power of Vertical Scaling00:08:23 - Why Big Tech Interviews for Scale You Don't Need Yet00:10:39 - Software Evolves, It Isn't Just "Built"00:11:53 - Only Design for the Next Order of Magnitude00:15:39 - Stop Building Generic Frameworks00:18:17 - "Hacking" the System Design Interview00:21:29 - Translating Tech Problems to Business Risks00:27:37 - Layoffs & Engineering Efficiency00:29:41 - Proving Your Impact with Numbers00:31:00 - Professional Engineering vs. Hobby Coding00:32:19 - "Simple is Complicated Enough"00:35:03 - The Rise of AI Coding (The Motorcycle Analogy)00:37:30 - "90% of My Code is Written by AI Agents"00:41:04 - How to Become a Great Engineer#SystemDesign #SoftwareEngineering #GitHub
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46:01
From Backend Engineer to Head of Mobile (Lessons from Uber)
What does it take to build a career as a mobile engineer when AI is changing everything? Pasha Mazurin shares how he went from Java backend engineer to Head of Mobile, why he only joins mobile-first companies, and how AI-assisted development brought the joy back to his work. This isn't theory, it's real lessons from 15+ years in the field and now learning Android at a senior level.In this episode, we cover:AI-assisted mobile development workflow (the four-window tmux setup)Why mobile-first companies operate completely differentlyHiring for strengths, not lack of weaknesses (lessons from Uber)Leading as a hands-on engineer who stays in the trenchesWhy React Native doesn't feel native and when to go fully nativeWhether you're building your mobile engineering career or figuring out how AI changes your workflow, this conversation offers practical perspectives on staying effective and making intentional career choices.Connect with Pasha:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kovpasTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:13 - Using AI as Your Junior Engineer Teammate00:02:33 - The Four-Window Tmux Setup for AI-Assisted Development00:04:29 - Managing Multiple Features with Git Worktrees00:05:52 - Why AI Makes You a Better Code Reviewer00:08:07 - Setting Up Markdown Files for AI Context00:11:54 - Small Teams vs Big Companies: Where Mobile Engineers Thrive00:16:26 - The Mobile-First Company Filter That Shapes Every Career Move00:18:31 - Being Nice: The Underrated Career Skill00:20:29 - Pick Your Battles: When to Disagree and Commit00:22:52 - Hire for Strengths, Not Lack of Weaknesses00:25:16 - Is Software Engineering Still a Good Career Choice?00:28:19 - How I Accidentally Became a Mobile Engineer00:31:41 - Why I Only Work on Apps That Matter to People00:35:08 - Joining Uber During the Big Mobile App Rewrite00:39:12 - Leading Without Rank: Managing as a Hands-On Engineer00:43:01 - How AI Changed Mobile Development in 12 Months00:46:09 - The Communication Skills That Make or Break Engineers00:49:59 - It's Okay to Say You Don't Understand00:51:30 - Working on Payments: Building Critical App Infrastructure00:53:25 - Why React Native Doesn't Feel Native (And What Works Better)00:55:36 - Can You Switch Specializations Without Taking a Pay Cut?00:57:02 - How Learning Android Brought the Joy Back
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58:34
How to Stay Relevant in Tech (25+ Years of Lessons)
Worried about staying relevant as AI and new tools keep changing tech? The answer isn't chasing every new framework, it's treating your career like an engineering problem you can solve.In this episode, we cover:Why staying relevant isn't about the tools (and what it's really about)The 3 essential career management tools: Brag Doc, Competency Framework, and MentorsHow to get promoted when you're already doing the workNavigating salary negotiations and knowing when to leaveBuilding a career plan that gives you permission to relaxIf you're an engineer who wants to take control of your career instead of letting it happen to you, this episode gives you the frameworks and tactics to do it.Connect with Özgen Güngör:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozgengungorTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:00:46 - The Biggest Challenge for Tech Careers Today00:01:33 - How to Stay Relevant in the Age of AI00:03:46 - The Coming Commoditization of Coding00:05:29 - How to Move Up the Value Stream as an Engineer00:07:35 - Your First Tech Job is a Throwaway (And That's OK)00:09:24 - The Power of Breaking Down Your Career Plan00:11:44 - You Work 13% of Your Life: Why Intentionality Matters00:13:56 - I Have Too Many Career Options. What Do I Do?00:15:34 - The "5 Whys" Exercise for Your Career00:19:38 - How to Get Your Manager to Be Your Ally00:22:15 - The Truth About Big Tech's Broken Promotion Process00:24:43 - The #1 Person Who Cares About Your Career00:28:48 - Why You MUST Keep a "Brag Doc"00:34:08 - How to Avoid Falling Behind in Promotions00:37:33 - What is a Competency Framework?00:40:34 - How to Map Out Your Own Career Ladder00:44:35 - The Silent Factor That Kills Engineering Performance00:48:31 - Your Career Transcends Your Company00:52:40 - The 5-Year Plan That Changed My Career00:56:18 - 3 Essential Tools for Total Career Management#TechCareer #SoftwareEngineering #CareerAdvice
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Promotions, Salary & Leadership: I Answer Your Toughest Tech Career Questions
You asked, I answered. In this Q&A episode, I tackle the toughest career questions you submitted: from getting promoted when the process feels political, to negotiating salary, to leading projects as an IC.In this episode, we cover:* Holding peers accountable when you're not their manager* Navigating promotions when the process is political or unclear* Increasing your salary with strategic job offers* Building real authority and getting noticed by leadership* Staying relevant in the age of AI without burning outThis is for software engineers who want practical strategies to level up their careers, increase their earning potential, and make real impact without the fluff.Join me at React Advanced and Tech Lead Conf in London:https://ti.to/gitnation/react-advanced-london-2025/discount/CODING20Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:00:19 - Holding Peers Accountable When Managers Won't Help00:03:58 - The Surprising Truth About Code "Quality"00:05:43 - Scaling Accountability Across Large Teams00:07:50 - When Climbing the Career Ladder Feels Political00:12:37 - How to Stay Relevant in Tech Without Burning Out00:14:49 - The Key to Learning Without Feeling Overwhelmed00:15:18 - The Real Difference for Engineers Working Globally00:17:44 - What to Do When You Get a Better Job Offer00:20:51 - Finding Motivation Beyond a Higher Salary00:21:41 - How to Build Real Credibility and Authority00:25:31 - The Advice I'd Give My Junior Developer Self00:29:05 - The Art of Effective Delegation00:31:47 - Why Delegation Is Really an Act of Trust00:32:21 - Team Player vs. Individual Star: A False Choice?00:34:43 - The #1 Personal Development Skill for Engineers00:37:11 - The Hidden Dangers of Relying on AI Tools00:40:08 - Is Volunteering at Tech Conferences Worth It?00:42:50 - My Personal Struggle with Embracing Change00:45:32 - The Career "Regret" I Don't Actually Regret00:46:45 - How to Stay Productive While Dealing with Grief00:49:08 - My Process for Finding Great Podcast Guests00:50:48 - The Secret to Making Guests Feel Comfortable00:52:06 - How Podcasting Transformed My Communication Skills00:53:35 - Handling Guarded or Difficult Podcast Guests00:56:11 - Final Thoughts & How to Support the ChannelGot questions for the next Q&A? Drop them in the comments 👇#SoftwareEngineering #CareerGrowth #TechLeadership
For software engineers ready to level up. Learn from CTOs, principal engineers, and tech leaders about the skills beyond coding: from technical mastery to product thinking and career growth
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