The other kind of staff software engineer
earthly.dev
The other kind of staff software engineer
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Re: The other kind of staff software engineer
#2Larger interactive media tech companies use these delineations too: an animation/game company may have "line producers" whose duties are in-house active productions, while a "producer" is a former "line producer" operating as a mentor, production supervisor for multiple ongoing productions and intermediary between productions vying for the same production resources. Then the "executive producer" is the external role, creating new production pitches, presenting them to publishers/distributors/financers/IP-owners as they work to land new jobs.
Re: The other kind of staff software engineer
#3Author here. Working at a tech company as a developer vs working at a non-tech company are very different.
These two types of roles were called line vs staff when I took a business school class and I think the differences between these two types of roles have a big impact on what the job is like, even if doing the same type of work. It's a bit confusing because it overlaps with 'staff software engineer' term.
I recall hearing stats before that the vast majority of developers work at non-tech companies, but I almost never hear their stories. They are the dark matter of software developers.
Re: The other kind of staff software engineer
#4Jokingly you could probably split this into engineers that use xml vs those that use json. I've worked in both types of companies.
Re: The other kind of staff software engineer
#5OP admits that the distinction is mostly fictional. "Line" can means (a) whatever role the vast majority of of people do, if such exists, (b) whoever your customers see ("talent" in the entertainment/sports world), (c) the expendable interchangable cogs and cannon fodder (military, factory, and Enterprise Consulting), or other.
Re: The other kind of staff software engineer
#6OP admits that the distinction is mostly fictional. "Line" can means (a) whatever role the vast majority of of people do, if such exists, (b) whoever your customers see ("talent" in the entertainment/sports world), (c) the expendable interchangable cogs and cannon fodder (military, factory, and Enterprise Consulting), or other.
Not fictional. Contextual.
Re: The other kind of staff software engineer
#7Lines are straight. Staffs are are uneven.
Lines help you walk by you looking at them. Staff help you walk by you holding them.
Re: The other kind of staff software engineer
#8Jokingly you could probably split this into engineers that use xml vs those that use json. I've worked in both types of companies.
I feel like nowadays that joke has evolved to devs that use JSON vs devs that use binary serialisation (like capnproto or whatever else)…
Re: The other kind of staff software engineer
#9At one place I worked full-time, the time-tracking software explicitly had a checkbox, "billable", which meant this time can be directly billed to clients, and you were expected to be able to check that for some specific percentage of your working day. A marketing company. It was annoying and onerous, quite like the company itself, come to think about it.
These days, as a freelancer, everything I do is "line", in these terms, by definition. It's glorious.
Re: The other kind of staff software engineer
#10Jokingly you could probably split this into engineers that use xml vs those that use json. I've worked in both types of companies.
I feel like nowadays that joke has evolved to devs that use JSON vs devs that use binary serialisation (like capnproto or whatever else)…
Why not both? There's a binary serialization format for XML... (https://www.w3.org/TR/exi/)