Schwarz IT KG

Senior Engineering Manager

GoTo

Leading a cross-functional team that is responsible for building the asset management module for GoTo Resolve.

Engineering Manager

As an Engineering Manager I am leading two teams. A product feature team with six team members and a developer experience team with two team members. We work on an essential piece of GoTo's main product. Over 60 developers contribute to the same code base so collaboration and coordination is essential. 

- Collaborating with my peers to facilitate cross-team collaboration
- Contributed to establishing and maintaining a decentralized ownership model for a large code base
- Collaborating closely with UX and Product
- Acting technical Product Owner for the development experience team

Engineering Team Lead

- Worked on porting the legacy code base of GoTo‘s web online meeting product to React and TypeScript
- Collaborated with adjacent teams in order to facilitate higher speed of delivery
- Co-organized the local JavaScript meetup

Staff Software Engineer

1&1 Internet AG

At 1&1 I joined a team of Frontend Developers to create a new foundation for web applications based on AngularJS and later Angular 2+. We created a platform with build tools and a starting point to build applications. I conceptualized the recommendations on how to use the platform and introduced Redux as a state management pattern. 

- Created frontend architecture
- Coached engineers on applications state management 
- Collaborated on creating build tools

Frontend Architect

ETECTURE

At ETECTURE I joined as a Frontend Developer to work on UIs for various client projects. From CSS for marketing websites to more complex user experiences and JavaScript applications. 

- Collaborated with peers to implement modern frontend architectures
- Participated in client meetings to consult as a frontend expert
- Organized meetups for the local JavaScript community with the support of ETECTURE

Frontend Developer

Kahlil Lechelt

Worked as a freelance consultant building websites for clients next to my day job.

- Implemented client projects with Typolight, CSS and JavaScript
- Participated in client meetings as web development expert
- Collaborated closely with UX designer

Web Developer

BrainFactory

At Brainfactory I joined as a Web Developer to implement client projects with PHP, JavaScript and CSS. Worked on legacy projects as well as new projects. From simple marketing web sites to small JavaScript applications. 

- Created estimations for client projects
- Implemented client projects with PHP, JavaScript and CSS
- Introduced version management with Git for client projects

FARO Europe GmbH & Co. KG

Joined FARO's marketing department as a Web Developer to implement marketing websites with Typo3, Typolight, JavaScript and CSS. Created microsites for various company products.

Ill Inspecta

Worked full time as a song writer and performer in the Dancehall genre. Collaborated with the German label Germaican Records. Recorded many tracks in their studio and performed all over Europe.

- Released several singles and an album
- Performed in venues and festivals all over Europe
- Album promo visit to Tokio, Japan

Artist

I help managers level up | Engineering Manager at GoTo

“Good news: you will become a manager. Bad news: I’m leaving the company.”

That's what my boss told me in December 2019.

So I got his teams.

2 teams,
12 direct reports,
1 hell of a complex project with lots of chaos and even more stakeholders.

I went through almost all, if not all, trials and tribulations a new manager can go through in just 2 years.

I found my footing after year 2 with the help of my wife, a peer (shoutout to Daniel Hauck), and a book, and I love it now.

Are you a new manager, muddling your way through it in the first few months?

I think I can help, and I would love to talk to you.

Send a DM and let's talk.

I have nothing to sell right now. I want to connect and help.

Pretty pumped to announce that I joined Schwarz IT KG as a senior engineering manager this month.

I'm grateful for my time at GoTo and happy to start something new at the same time.

GoTo is the place where I became an engineering manager and learned all I know about management. 

I worked with some incredibly capable software engineers, managers, designers, and product managers. 

I will forever have fond memories of this place.

But now, it's time for something new. 

I'm looking forward to joining a new team and working on new projects.

And I'm curious to learn about how a large organization like the Schwarz Group operates.

Lots to learn, onward!

I help managers get results and keep their people | Senior Engineering Manager at Schwarz IT

No alternative text description for this image

Engineering management needs less of this:

- Talking.
- Tunnel vision. 
- Focus on tools.
- Enforcing Scrum.
- Micromanagement.
- Staging environments.
- Ignoring business realities. 
- Neglect of continuous learning.
- Waiting around for product management.
- "We delivered X story points this sprint, yay!"
  
And more of: 

- Elevating developers into an effective eng org.
- Finding the process that supports the team.
- Working with product management.
- A culture of continuous learning.
- Taking action to produce value.
- Up-skilling teams.
- Big picture vision.
- Regular 1-on-1s.
- Delegation.
- Writing.
  
P.S. This post is a re-issue of a post I wrote 5 months ago. It was extended with additions from the comment section by Niko Noll, 🎓 David Craddock, Katja Obring, Sky Chin, Jussi Mäkelä, Alex Korzh, Daniel Schley, Palle Zingmark & Sangam Pandey. Thank you!

1 secret most managers don’t know.

The job is not about:

- Being overwhelmed.
- Working overtime.
- Looking busy.

It’s about:

- Prioritizing high-leverage.
- Having time to think.  
- Being proactive.

P.S. What is your favorite counter-intuitive truth?

Introverts can make for exceptional managers. 

- They are empathetic.
- They are great at giving credit.
- They are great listeners in 1-on-1s.
- They study management as a craft.
- They take time to recharge and think.

Would you hire a plumber who never learned the basics of plumbing?

No?

Why do we do this with managers?

I had the pleasure to sit down with Robin Svensson for his Leaders in Tech podcast and talk about my favorite topic: how to get started as a manager.

Find the link to the episode in the comments.

The reason why software devs often go back to coding after “trying out management”:

I help managers get results and keep their people | Engineering Manager

🔥Hot take: 

Leadership is merely a by-product of good management. 

Learn how to manage well and you will automatically start developing a leadership style.

Taplio

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