Rafa Páez
@rafapaez.bsky.social
Senior Engineering Leader | Scaling Teams & Platforms | Generative AI Enthusiast | Remote & Async Work Advocate.
Author of The Engineering Leader Newsletter https://newsletter.rafapaez.com 📥
Author of The Engineering Leader Newsletter https://newsletter.rafapaez.com 📥
Reposted by Rafa Páez
You don’t need a roadmap full of features.
You need a culture that lets teams think.
This issue is for anyone who’s tired of chasing tickets 👇🏼
newsletter.optimistengineer.com/p/are-you-st...
#softwareengineering #leadership
You need a culture that lets teams think.
This issue is for anyone who’s tired of chasing tickets 👇🏼
newsletter.optimistengineer.com/p/are-you-st...
#softwareengineering #leadership
Are you still treating your team like a family?
You are not The Brady Bunch
newsletter.optimistengineer.com
May 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
You don’t need a roadmap full of features.
You need a culture that lets teams think.
This issue is for anyone who’s tired of chasing tickets 👇🏼
newsletter.optimistengineer.com/p/are-you-st...
#softwareengineering #leadership
You need a culture that lets teams think.
This issue is for anyone who’s tired of chasing tickets 👇🏼
newsletter.optimistengineer.com/p/are-you-st...
#softwareengineering #leadership
The real meaning of Agile
May 26, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The real meaning of Agile
High-agency engineers multiply their impact by investing in social capital. — Rafa Páez
How high-agency engineers turn trust, credibility, and relationships into visible impact 👉 newsletter.rafapaez.com/p/social-cap...
Social Capital: The Compound Interest of Your Engineering Career
How high-agency engineers turn trust, credibility, and relationships into visible impact
newsletter.rafapaez.com
May 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM
High-agency engineers multiply their impact by investing in social capital. — Rafa Páez
Most engineers ignore the one thing that makes impact scale: Social capital
It’s not favoritism.
It’s trust, credibility, and relationships.
Today's newsletter:
🔹 3 core pillars
🔹 Why high agency isn’t enough
🔹 2 simple visuals
What’s 1 thing you do to build social capital?
It’s not favoritism.
It’s trust, credibility, and relationships.
Today's newsletter:
🔹 3 core pillars
🔹 Why high agency isn’t enough
🔹 2 simple visuals
What’s 1 thing you do to build social capital?
May 25, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Most engineers ignore the one thing that makes impact scale: Social capital
It’s not favoritism.
It’s trust, credibility, and relationships.
Today's newsletter:
🔹 3 core pillars
🔹 Why high agency isn’t enough
🔹 2 simple visuals
What’s 1 thing you do to build social capital?
It’s not favoritism.
It’s trust, credibility, and relationships.
Today's newsletter:
🔹 3 core pillars
🔹 Why high agency isn’t enough
🔹 2 simple visuals
What’s 1 thing you do to build social capital?
2,000 subscribers on The Engineer Leader! 🎉
I thought only my mom would read. Now it's 2k engineers and leaders reading it every week.
Huge thanks for every read, like, share.
Not onboard? Subscribe in 2 seconds (link in my bio)
I thought only my mom would read. Now it's 2k engineers and leaders reading it every week.
Huge thanks for every read, like, share.
Not onboard? Subscribe in 2 seconds (link in my bio)
May 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
2,000 subscribers on The Engineer Leader! 🎉
I thought only my mom would read. Now it's 2k engineers and leaders reading it every week.
Huge thanks for every read, like, share.
Not onboard? Subscribe in 2 seconds (link in my bio)
I thought only my mom would read. Now it's 2k engineers and leaders reading it every week.
Huge thanks for every read, like, share.
Not onboard? Subscribe in 2 seconds (link in my bio)
Reposted by Rafa Páez
Becoming a better engineer isn’t just about code.
It’s about making decisions, leading under pressure, and growing beyond your title.
Here’s where you start 👇🏼
newsletter.optimistengineer.com/p/find-what-...
#softwareengineering #leadership
It’s about making decisions, leading under pressure, and growing beyond your title.
Here’s where you start 👇🏼
newsletter.optimistengineer.com/p/find-what-...
#softwareengineering #leadership
Find What You Need: A Curated Guide to My Best Content
Whether you're growing into leadership, aiming for Tech Lead, or eyeing a Staff Engineer role—this guide will help you get there faster
newsletter.optimistengineer.com
May 18, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Becoming a better engineer isn’t just about code.
It’s about making decisions, leading under pressure, and growing beyond your title.
Here’s where you start 👇🏼
newsletter.optimistengineer.com/p/find-what-...
#softwareengineering #leadership
It’s about making decisions, leading under pressure, and growing beyond your title.
Here’s where you start 👇🏼
newsletter.optimistengineer.com/p/find-what-...
#softwareengineering #leadership
Have you ever seen someone get promoted while someone else, more technically skilled and harder working, stays stuck?
The first learned to decode the system.
Every company runs on two playbooks:
1. The official one: what they tell you.
2. The real one: what actually works.
The first learned to decode the system.
Every company runs on two playbooks:
1. The official one: what they tell you.
2. The real one: what actually works.
May 18, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Have you ever seen someone get promoted while someone else, more technically skilled and harder working, stays stuck?
The first learned to decode the system.
Every company runs on two playbooks:
1. The official one: what they tell you.
2. The real one: what actually works.
The first learned to decode the system.
Every company runs on two playbooks:
1. The official one: what they tell you.
2. The real one: what actually works.
“If a tree falls in the forest and nobody tweets it, did it really fall?”
If your work isn’t seen, it doesn’t count.
Visibility ≠ vanity. It’s strategy.
More on this in tomorrow’s issue of my newsletter.
Don’t miss it (link in bio).
#EngineeringLeadership #CareerGrowth
If your work isn’t seen, it doesn’t count.
Visibility ≠ vanity. It’s strategy.
More on this in tomorrow’s issue of my newsletter.
Don’t miss it (link in bio).
#EngineeringLeadership #CareerGrowth
May 17, 2025 at 2:34 PM
“If a tree falls in the forest and nobody tweets it, did it really fall?”
If your work isn’t seen, it doesn’t count.
Visibility ≠ vanity. It’s strategy.
More on this in tomorrow’s issue of my newsletter.
Don’t miss it (link in bio).
#EngineeringLeadership #CareerGrowth
If your work isn’t seen, it doesn’t count.
Visibility ≠ vanity. It’s strategy.
More on this in tomorrow’s issue of my newsletter.
Don’t miss it (link in bio).
#EngineeringLeadership #CareerGrowth
Change my mind: Software engineering interviews are harder than the job itself.
May 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Change my mind: Software engineering interviews are harder than the job itself.
Okay, seems BlueSky is dying or is just me?
May 15, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Okay, seems BlueSky is dying or is just me?
There are 2 kinds of Engineering Managers:
The Driver: leads from the front, solves the hardest problems.
The Enabler: sets direction, coaches, delegates, empowers.
Both can work.
Both can fail.
Which one gets the best out of you?
The Driver: leads from the front, solves the hardest problems.
The Enabler: sets direction, coaches, delegates, empowers.
Both can work.
Both can fail.
Which one gets the best out of you?
May 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
There are 2 kinds of Engineering Managers:
The Driver: leads from the front, solves the hardest problems.
The Enabler: sets direction, coaches, delegates, empowers.
Both can work.
Both can fail.
Which one gets the best out of you?
The Driver: leads from the front, solves the hardest problems.
The Enabler: sets direction, coaches, delegates, empowers.
Both can work.
Both can fail.
Which one gets the best out of you?
Never promise a promotion, unless you're the CEO.
You can coach, advocate, support.
But you don’t control the final say.
Promise growth, not guarantees.
Exceptions can be made, but not for you.
Break trust once, and your word is worthless.
Ever seen this go wrong?
You can coach, advocate, support.
But you don’t control the final say.
Promise growth, not guarantees.
Exceptions can be made, but not for you.
Break trust once, and your word is worthless.
Ever seen this go wrong?
May 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Never promise a promotion, unless you're the CEO.
You can coach, advocate, support.
But you don’t control the final say.
Promise growth, not guarantees.
Exceptions can be made, but not for you.
Break trust once, and your word is worthless.
Ever seen this go wrong?
You can coach, advocate, support.
But you don’t control the final say.
Promise growth, not guarantees.
Exceptions can be made, but not for you.
Break trust once, and your word is worthless.
Ever seen this go wrong?
No LeetCode.
No endless take-homes.
No 8-round interview marathons.
These are just 3 of my 7 non-negotiables for a fair interview process.
Full list in my latest newsletter.
What are your own non-negotiables when you're on the candidate side?
No endless take-homes.
No 8-round interview marathons.
These are just 3 of my 7 non-negotiables for a fair interview process.
Full list in my latest newsletter.
What are your own non-negotiables when you're on the candidate side?
May 11, 2025 at 1:29 PM
No LeetCode.
No endless take-homes.
No 8-round interview marathons.
These are just 3 of my 7 non-negotiables for a fair interview process.
Full list in my latest newsletter.
What are your own non-negotiables when you're on the candidate side?
No endless take-homes.
No 8-round interview marathons.
These are just 3 of my 7 non-negotiables for a fair interview process.
Full list in my latest newsletter.
What are your own non-negotiables when you're on the candidate side?
I’m debating whether to publish tomorrow’s article.
Some recruiters, hiring managers, and HR folks might not like it. But the truth is: this is something that needs to be said
I believe it's time we raise the bar. Should I hit publish?
👉 Don’t miss it: newsletter.rafapaez.com
Some recruiters, hiring managers, and HR folks might not like it. But the truth is: this is something that needs to be said
I believe it's time we raise the bar. Should I hit publish?
👉 Don’t miss it: newsletter.rafapaez.com
The Engineering Leader | Rafa Páez | Substack
The leading weekly newsletter trusted by hundreds of Software Engineers, Managers, and Leaders to accelerate their careers and drive impact. Click to read The Engineering Leader, by Rafa Páez, a Subst...
newsletter.rafapaez.com
May 10, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I’m debating whether to publish tomorrow’s article.
Some recruiters, hiring managers, and HR folks might not like it. But the truth is: this is something that needs to be said
I believe it's time we raise the bar. Should I hit publish?
👉 Don’t miss it: newsletter.rafapaez.com
Some recruiters, hiring managers, and HR folks might not like it. But the truth is: this is something that needs to be said
I believe it's time we raise the bar. Should I hit publish?
👉 Don’t miss it: newsletter.rafapaez.com
Is it just me, or is the tech market starting to bounce back?
In the past few days, several people in my network have landed new roles.
Opportunities are popping up again. Momentum is shifting.
Buckle up, looks like we’re heading back up. 🚀
In the past few days, several people in my network have landed new roles.
Opportunities are popping up again. Momentum is shifting.
Buckle up, looks like we’re heading back up. 🚀
May 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Is it just me, or is the tech market starting to bounce back?
In the past few days, several people in my network have landed new roles.
Opportunities are popping up again. Momentum is shifting.
Buckle up, looks like we’re heading back up. 🚀
In the past few days, several people in my network have landed new roles.
Opportunities are popping up again. Momentum is shifting.
Buckle up, looks like we’re heading back up. 🚀
"Better waves make better surfers. Are you on the right beach?"
Friday reflections.
Friday reflections.
May 9, 2025 at 12:58 PM
"Better waves make better surfers. Are you on the right beach?"
Friday reflections.
Friday reflections.
Networking has two modes:
TCP – Real connection. Handshake. Deep conversations. Mutual value.
UDP – “Happy Friday!”, check my site, and some random memes. No context. No follow-up. Just broadcasting.
Both have their place.
But if you want real growth?
Be more TCP.
TCP – Real connection. Handshake. Deep conversations. Mutual value.
UDP – “Happy Friday!”, check my site, and some random memes. No context. No follow-up. Just broadcasting.
Both have their place.
But if you want real growth?
Be more TCP.
May 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Networking has two modes:
TCP – Real connection. Handshake. Deep conversations. Mutual value.
UDP – “Happy Friday!”, check my site, and some random memes. No context. No follow-up. Just broadcasting.
Both have their place.
But if you want real growth?
Be more TCP.
TCP – Real connection. Handshake. Deep conversations. Mutual value.
UDP – “Happy Friday!”, check my site, and some random memes. No context. No follow-up. Just broadcasting.
Both have their place.
But if you want real growth?
Be more TCP.
What's your favourite book about software engineering, leadership or personal development?
But books only reach their full power when we do something with the ideas inside them. I share how each pick influenced me, and how you can turn insights into action.
👉 Give it a read here: newsletter.rafapaez.com/p/the-books-...
👉 Give it a read here: newsletter.rafapaez.com/p/the-books-...
The Books That Changed My Life
From leadership to mindset: 46 shelf‑worthy reads that shape how I think, lead, and grow.
newsletter.rafapaez.com
May 4, 2025 at 8:31 PM
What's your favourite book about software engineering, leadership or personal development?
📚 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲: 46 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘧‑𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 & 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘦𝘵.
Every title on this list nudged my thinking, sharpened my leadership, or helped me see the world a shade clearer.
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲? 👇
Every title on this list nudged my thinking, sharpened my leadership, or helped me see the world a shade clearer.
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲? 👇
May 4, 2025 at 8:53 AM
📚 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲: 46 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘧‑𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 & 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘦𝘵.
Every title on this list nudged my thinking, sharpened my leadership, or helped me see the world a shade clearer.
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲? 👇
Every title on this list nudged my thinking, sharpened my leadership, or helped me see the world a shade clearer.
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲? 👇
AI-first is smart. Mandate-first? Not so much.
You can’t KPI your way into innovation.
Trust your team. Give them tools, not checklists.
Adoption follows value, not pressure.
Let AI be a spark, not a script.
You can’t KPI your way into innovation.
Trust your team. Give them tools, not checklists.
Adoption follows value, not pressure.
Let AI be a spark, not a script.
May 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
AI-first is smart. Mandate-first? Not so much.
You can’t KPI your way into innovation.
Trust your team. Give them tools, not checklists.
Adoption follows value, not pressure.
Let AI be a spark, not a script.
You can’t KPI your way into innovation.
Trust your team. Give them tools, not checklists.
Adoption follows value, not pressure.
Let AI be a spark, not a script.
May has started strong for 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 newsletter. 🚀
This Sunday, I’m dropping a bold, controversial take that 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿.
Not on the list yet?
📥 Subscribe now and don’t miss it (check my bio)
This Sunday, I’m dropping a bold, controversial take that 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿.
Not on the list yet?
📥 Subscribe now and don’t miss it (check my bio)
May 2, 2025 at 4:32 PM
May has started strong for 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 newsletter. 🚀
This Sunday, I’m dropping a bold, controversial take that 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿.
Not on the list yet?
📥 Subscribe now and don’t miss it (check my bio)
This Sunday, I’m dropping a bold, controversial take that 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿.
Not on the list yet?
📥 Subscribe now and don’t miss it (check my bio)
I just learned about 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗽.
AI can make you more creative—or less.
👉 Underperformers treat AI like a tool.
🏆 Top performers treat AI like a teammate.
That one mindset shift? It changes everything.
AI can make you more creative—or less.
👉 Underperformers treat AI like a tool.
🏆 Top performers treat AI like a teammate.
That one mindset shift? It changes everything.
May 1, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I just learned about 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗽.
AI can make you more creative—or less.
👉 Underperformers treat AI like a tool.
🏆 Top performers treat AI like a teammate.
That one mindset shift? It changes everything.
AI can make you more creative—or less.
👉 Underperformers treat AI like a tool.
🏆 Top performers treat AI like a teammate.
That one mindset shift? It changes everything.
The biggest unlock in my engineering career?
Becoming product-minded.
Not just building things right, building the right things.
Think business impact. Ask why. Care about outcomes.
It made me a better engineer, teammate, and leader.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳
Becoming product-minded.
Not just building things right, building the right things.
Think business impact. Ask why. Care about outcomes.
It made me a better engineer, teammate, and leader.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳
May 1, 2025 at 9:02 AM
The biggest unlock in my engineering career?
Becoming product-minded.
Not just building things right, building the right things.
Think business impact. Ask why. Care about outcomes.
It made me a better engineer, teammate, and leader.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳
Becoming product-minded.
Not just building things right, building the right things.
Think business impact. Ask why. Care about outcomes.
It made me a better engineer, teammate, and leader.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳