Become a Senior Engineer
@becomeaseniorengineer.com
A newsletter for software engineers looking to level up to Senior++
Questions and topic ideas encouraged!
https://newsletter.becomeaseniorengineer.com
Questions and topic ideas encouraged!
https://newsletter.becomeaseniorengineer.com
Stop saying 'hi' and waiting to write your message in Slack!
Make your first message a complete thought - respect others' time and attention span. 🎯
Make your first message a complete thought - respect others' time and attention span. 🎯
February 25, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Stop saying 'hi' and waiting to write your message in Slack!
Make your first message a complete thought - respect others' time and attention span. 🎯
Make your first message a complete thought - respect others' time and attention span. 🎯
Your onboarding period is a unique chance to spot improvements with fresh eyes.
Notice something that could work better?
That's your first win waiting to happen! 🎯
Notice something that could work better?
That's your first win waiting to happen! 🎯
February 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Your onboarding period is a unique chance to spot improvements with fresh eyes.
Notice something that could work better?
That's your first win waiting to happen! 🎯
Notice something that could work better?
That's your first win waiting to happen! 🎯
Remember: Each MVP should be fully functional, even if simple.
A skateboard gets you moving faster than waiting for a car to be perfect 🛼
A skateboard gets you moving faster than waiting for a car to be perfect 🛼
February 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Remember: Each MVP should be fully functional, even if simple.
A skateboard gets you moving faster than waiting for a car to be perfect 🛼
A skateboard gets you moving faster than waiting for a car to be perfect 🛼
Building features layer by layer is like shipping a car piece by piece.
Nobody can drive a perfect engine without wheels!
Ship complete, working solutions 🚗
Nobody can drive a perfect engine without wheels!
Ship complete, working solutions 🚗
February 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Building features layer by layer is like shipping a car piece by piece.
Nobody can drive a perfect engine without wheels!
Ship complete, working solutions 🚗
Nobody can drive a perfect engine without wheels!
Ship complete, working solutions 🚗
Pair programming isn't just about code - it's a masterclass in communication, empathy, and collaboration.
These soft skills are often what separate good devs from great ones! 🌟
These soft skills are often what separate good devs from great ones! 🌟
February 21, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Pair programming isn't just about code - it's a masterclass in communication, empathy, and collaboration.
These soft skills are often what separate good devs from great ones! 🌟
These soft skills are often what separate good devs from great ones! 🌟
Senior engineers don't just understand code—they get the business context.
Make time during onboarding to learn about market position and strategic goals.
Make time during onboarding to learn about market position and strategic goals.
February 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Senior engineers don't just understand code—they get the business context.
Make time during onboarding to learn about market position and strategic goals.
Make time during onboarding to learn about market position and strategic goals.
No formal onboarding process at your new job? Create one!
Taking initiative to structure your learning shows senior-level ownership from day one. 💪🏼
Taking initiative to structure your learning shows senior-level ownership from day one. 💪🏼
February 20, 2025 at 8:36 PM
No formal onboarding process at your new job? Create one!
Taking initiative to structure your learning shows senior-level ownership from day one. 💪🏼
Taking initiative to structure your learning shows senior-level ownership from day one. 💪🏼
Your Slack is too noisy?
Only enable notifications for DMs, mentions, and keywords.
Everything else can wait until you're ready to catch up. 🔕
Only enable notifications for DMs, mentions, and keywords.
Everything else can wait until you're ready to catch up. 🔕
February 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Your Slack is too noisy?
Only enable notifications for DMs, mentions, and keywords.
Everything else can wait until you're ready to catch up. 🔕
Only enable notifications for DMs, mentions, and keywords.
Everything else can wait until you're ready to catch up. 🔕
When meeting new teammates, follow the breadcrumbs:
Ask who else they work with and repeat.
You'll naturally map out all the key relationships you need.
Ask who else they work with and repeat.
You'll naturally map out all the key relationships you need.
February 19, 2025 at 8:36 PM
When meeting new teammates, follow the breadcrumbs:
Ask who else they work with and repeat.
You'll naturally map out all the key relationships you need.
Ask who else they work with and repeat.
You'll naturally map out all the key relationships you need.
Even as a junior dev, you bring value to pair programming.
Your questions and fresh perspective can challenge assumptions and lead to better solutions.
Never underestimate your input! 💡
Your questions and fresh perspective can challenge assumptions and lead to better solutions.
Never underestimate your input! 💡
February 19, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Even as a junior dev, you bring value to pair programming.
Your questions and fresh perspective can challenge assumptions and lead to better solutions.
Never underestimate your input! 💡
Your questions and fresh perspective can challenge assumptions and lead to better solutions.
Never underestimate your input! 💡
Is your #engineering Slack channel pure chaos?
Create specific channels for teams and projects.
Your future self (and colleagues) will thank you for the organized discussions! 📚
Create specific channels for teams and projects.
Your future self (and colleagues) will thank you for the organized discussions! 📚
February 18, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Is your #engineering Slack channel pure chaos?
Create specific channels for teams and projects.
Your future self (and colleagues) will thank you for the organized discussions! 📚
Create specific channels for teams and projects.
Your future self (and colleagues) will thank you for the organized discussions! 📚
Balance your first 90 days: Split focus between networking, learning the tech stack, and making tangible contributions.
Work with your manager to set realistic goals for each.
Work with your manager to set realistic goals for each.
February 18, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Balance your first 90 days: Split focus between networking, learning the tech stack, and making tangible contributions.
Work with your manager to set realistic goals for each.
Work with your manager to set realistic goals for each.
Pro tip: Turn off message previews in Slack notifications.
It prevents context switching when you're focused and adds privacy when screen sharing. 🔒
It prevents context switching when you're focused and adds privacy when screen sharing. 🔒
February 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Pro tip: Turn off message previews in Slack notifications.
It prevents context switching when you're focused and adds privacy when screen sharing. 🔒
It prevents context switching when you're focused and adds privacy when screen sharing. 🔒
When stuck between multiple good options, remember:
Getting to action teaches you more about what 'best' actually means than endless theoretical debates 🎯
Getting to action teaches you more about what 'best' actually means than endless theoretical debates 🎯
February 17, 2025 at 2:52 PM
When stuck between multiple good options, remember:
Getting to action teaches you more about what 'best' actually means than endless theoretical debates 🎯
Getting to action teaches you more about what 'best' actually means than endless theoretical debates 🎯
Threads in Slack keep conversations organized and searchable.
But if a thread diverges too much, start a new one!
Keep discussions focused and easy to follow. 🧵
But if a thread diverges too much, start a new one!
Keep discussions focused and easy to follow. 🧵
February 14, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Threads in Slack keep conversations organized and searchable.
But if a thread diverges too much, start a new one!
Keep discussions focused and easy to follow. 🧵
But if a thread diverges too much, start a new one!
Keep discussions focused and easy to follow. 🧵
The secret to faster engineering decisions: Match your decision time to impact size.
High organizational impact? Take time.
Easy to change later? Move fast! ⚡️
High organizational impact? Take time.
Easy to change later? Move fast! ⚡️
February 14, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The secret to faster engineering decisions: Match your decision time to impact size.
High organizational impact? Take time.
Easy to change later? Move fast! ⚡️
High organizational impact? Take time.
Easy to change later? Move fast! ⚡️
Pair programming tip: Switch roles regularly between driver (writing code) and navigator (reviewing, thinking ahead).
It keeps both devs engaged and encourages fresh perspectives! 🔄
It keeps both devs engaged and encourages fresh perspectives! 🔄
February 13, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Pair programming tip: Switch roles regularly between driver (writing code) and navigator (reviewing, thinking ahead).
It keeps both devs engaged and encourages fresh perspectives! 🔄
It keeps both devs engaged and encourages fresh perspectives! 🔄
Pro tip: Meet 1:1 with every teammate early on.
Have them explain their work, show you the product, and share docs.
Ask 'why' questions—they reveal crucial business context you'll need later.
Have them explain their work, show you the product, and share docs.
Ask 'why' questions—they reveal crucial business context you'll need later.
February 13, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Pro tip: Meet 1:1 with every teammate early on.
Have them explain their work, show you the product, and share docs.
Ask 'why' questions—they reveal crucial business context you'll need later.
Have them explain their work, show you the product, and share docs.
Ask 'why' questions—they reveal crucial business context you'll need later.
Want to level up to Senior Engineer faster?
Focus on shipping small, complete features that deliver immediate value.
Impact compounds over time! 📈
Focus on shipping small, complete features that deliver immediate value.
Impact compounds over time! 📈
February 12, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Want to level up to Senior Engineer faster?
Focus on shipping small, complete features that deliver immediate value.
Impact compounds over time! 📈
Focus on shipping small, complete features that deliver immediate value.
Impact compounds over time! 📈
Senior eng tip: Use your product like a customer during onboarding.
It helps you understand user pain points, spot improvement opportunities, and ask better questions about feature decisions.
It helps you understand user pain points, spot improvement opportunities, and ask better questions about feature decisions.
February 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Senior eng tip: Use your product like a customer during onboarding.
It helps you understand user pain points, spot improvement opportunities, and ask better questions about feature decisions.
It helps you understand user pain points, spot improvement opportunities, and ask better questions about feature decisions.
Drowning in Slack thread notifications?
You can unsubscribe from any thread: hover over the original post → three dots → 'Turn off notifications for replies' 🏊♂️
You can unsubscribe from any thread: hover over the original post → three dots → 'Turn off notifications for replies' 🏊♂️
February 11, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Drowning in Slack thread notifications?
You can unsubscribe from any thread: hover over the original post → three dots → 'Turn off notifications for replies' 🏊♂️
You can unsubscribe from any thread: hover over the original post → three dots → 'Turn off notifications for replies' 🏊♂️
Found an annoying process during onboarding?
Document it, improve it, automate it.
Future team members will thank you! ✨
Document it, improve it, automate it.
Future team members will thank you! ✨
February 11, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Found an annoying process during onboarding?
Document it, improve it, automate it.
Future team members will thank you! ✨
Document it, improve it, automate it.
Future team members will thank you! ✨
Don't wait for perfect consensus—it rarely happens.
Make decisions with majority support and start learning from real outcomes.
Your team will thank you for the momentum! 🚀
Make decisions with majority support and start learning from real outcomes.
Your team will thank you for the momentum! 🚀
February 10, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Don't wait for perfect consensus—it rarely happens.
Make decisions with majority support and start learning from real outcomes.
Your team will thank you for the momentum! 🚀
Make decisions with majority support and start learning from real outcomes.
Your team will thank you for the momentum! 🚀
Engineering decision framework:
Define the problem clearly, reduce scope if needed, research options, collaborate—but don't get stuck seeking unanimity.
Ship and learn! 🛠️
Define the problem clearly, reduce scope if needed, research options, collaborate—but don't get stuck seeking unanimity.
Ship and learn! 🛠️
February 10, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Engineering decision framework:
Define the problem clearly, reduce scope if needed, research options, collaborate—but don't get stuck seeking unanimity.
Ship and learn! 🛠️
Define the problem clearly, reduce scope if needed, research options, collaborate—but don't get stuck seeking unanimity.
Ship and learn! 🛠️
Production bug hunting? Pair programming shines here!
Two sets of eyes catch patterns faster, and you're less likely to miss important details when investigating together. 🔍
Two sets of eyes catch patterns faster, and you're less likely to miss important details when investigating together. 🔍
February 7, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Production bug hunting? Pair programming shines here!
Two sets of eyes catch patterns faster, and you're less likely to miss important details when investigating together. 🔍
Two sets of eyes catch patterns faster, and you're less likely to miss important details when investigating together. 🔍