Building and Running Effective Engineering Teams

Dive into a comprehensive 1 hour 42 minute talk by Jeff Escalante, Director of Engineering at Clerk.com, on building and running effective engineering teams. Explore the journey from web development to management, focusing on key aspects such as employee leveling, handling interview ambiguity, and prioritizing customer needs. Learn strategies for evaluating technical skills, maintaining authenticity in the workplace, and balancing honesty with team safety. Gain insights on selecting appropriate tools, fostering partnerships, and implementing effective feedback systems. Discover valuable takeaways on promotions, managing ambiguity, and building genuine relationships within engineering teams.

Introduction and Background
Starting Out in Web Development
Transitioning to Management at HashiCorp
Working on Websites and Next.js
Promotions and Expanding Field of Vision
Navigating Promotions and Expectations
Dealing with Frustration and Finding New Opportunities
The Importance of Properly Leveling Employees
Strategies for Leveling Employees
Handling Ambiguity in Interviews
The Value of Conversation in Defining Projects
Determining Comfort Levels in Ambiguity
The Vision-Scope Leveling Question
Prioritizing Customer Needs and Tech Debt
Navigating the Chaos of Undefined Spaces
Listening to Customer Feedback at Clerk
Importance of Centralized Feedback System
Challenges in Mapping Feedback to Projects
Choosing Product Lane over Other Tools
Value of Partnerships and Investing in Software
The Third Pillar: Evaluating Tech Skills and Handling Ambiguity
Honoring Context and Being Your Full Self
Navigating Personal and Professional Relationships
Balancing Honesty and Building Genuine Relationships
Closing Remarks and Handbook Release