Role: The Principal Engineer

Easily the most important people in the building.

Language aside, the Principal Engineers are the IC7. The gold dust and in many many years of leading technology companies are the 10x over all.

Why? Because they are the engineers of the engine. They design the engine and as a CTO they are the arteries of the body.

By me they are given unencumbered access. They are never 'assigned' and they tell me where they will and heavy lift the team, not the other way around. They know better than anyone where their presence will be felt and so does the team. Success is bumping into an engineer in the lunch room and they say to me 'I'm so happy <INSERT HERE> has come and helped us with that...awesome'.

Principals also define our technology choices. They tell me why we are going to go with <INSERT HERE> frontend js framework or <INSERT HERE> database platform. My job is to sense check and endorse, but they are the powerhouse behind those important decisions.

Lastly and most importantly Principals have a seat at my table. Whether direct reporting or not I don't care, but when technology leadership comes together so do the practioners. I want them near me, I want their voice in the 'management' and 'planning'conversation. I trust these people deeply. They will have the reality and implications. No slight on management roles, I just really value this.

The Principals I know I deeply respect as people and in the practice. In some ways I envy them being so good at what they do. The best of the best' like the All Blacks!