“How to be a 10x engineer” – interview with a standout dev

In the world of technology, the term "10x engineer" is often thrown around to describe someone who significantly outperforms their peers. But what does it really mean to be such a standout? We met one such engineer, whom we'll call Sam, during our time at Uber. Sam's reputation as a top performer was well-known among his colleagues, and when we became a manager, his name frequently came up during performance calibrations. In one notable year, Sam was in the "top, top" bucket reserved for the 3% best engineers.

After leaving Uber, we stayed in touch, and a few months ago, we learned that Sam was exploring new opportunities. What we discovered about his job search was fascinating: he didn't apply for a single role. Instead, it was former colleagues reaching out to him, desperate to hire him. One startup, even though it wasn't actively hiring, was ready to create a new position just for Sam.

We decided to share Sam's story on LinkedIn, highlighting his under-the-radar presence despite his exceptional skills. Sam's LinkedIn profile was minimal, listing only the companies he'd worked for without any details about technologies or projects. His GitHub contributions were sparse, with just a dozen commits over the past decade and none in the last five years.

Despite this lack of public visibility, Sam is one of the best software engineers we've worked with. His story sparked interest, particularly from Olivier Frolovs, a cloud technologist who requested an article on Sam to help others understand how he operates. And now, Sam has graciously agreed to share his insights.

When we spoke with Sam, he shared his approach to being a standout engineer. He emphasized the importance of setting clear boundaries and prioritizing quality work over quantity. Sam believes that focusing on delivering high-quality, reliable code is more impactful than contributing to numerous open-source projects or maintaining an active GitHub presence.

Sam also highlighted the value of building strong relationships with colleagues. He credits his success to the referrals and recommendations from former teammates, who recognized his talent and advocated for him. This network effect has been crucial in his career, as it has opened doors to new opportunities without him needing to actively seek them out.

In addition to these factors, Sam stresses the importance of continuous learning and adaptability. He stays updated with industry trends and is always willing to learn new technologies and methodologies. This mindset has allowed him to thrive in various roles and environments, further solidifying his reputation as a top performer.

Sam's story challenges the traditional notion of what it means to be a standout engineer. His success isn't defined by his public online presence or the number of projects he's worked on, but rather by his ability to deliver exceptional results and build meaningful connections with his peers. As the tech industry continues to evolve, Sam's approach serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of focusing on quality, prioritizing boundaries, and nurturing professional relationships.

In conclusion, Sam's journey as a 10x engineer is a testament to the fact that true excellence often lies in the unassuming and understated. By setting clear boundaries, prioritizing quality work, and building a strong network of advocates, Sam has achieved remarkable success without the need for a robust online presence. His story offers valuable insights for aspiring engineers seeking to make their mark in the tech world, emphasizing that the path to standing out is not always about being loud and visible, but rather about consistently delivering outstanding results and fostering meaningful connections.