Breaking the Ceiling: Scaling Your Impact at the Staff-Plus Level

The transition from Senior to Staff-Plus Engineer marks a pivotal evolution in an engineer's career, requiring not more technical excellence but, more importantly, a fundamental shift in how they influence, lead, and drive outcomes across their organization. When it comes to staff engineering, the old management saying, "What Got You Here Won't Get You There," couldn't be more accurate.

Drawing upon my experience as a Director of Engineering collaborating closely with Staff-Plus Engineers, guiding Senior Engineers through this difficult transition, and participating in promotion committees & performance calibrations, I've observed a distinct pattern in the behaviors, strategies, and thought processes that define top-performing Staff-Plus Engineers.

In this talk, attendees will learn:

• The critical behaviors and mindsets that distinguish high-performing Staff-Plus Engineers from their peers, based on real-life observations and successes in fostering senior engineers' transition into Staff roles.
• Practical strategies for scaling personal impact through mentorship, sponsorship, and strategic involvement in projects, including how to navigate the balance between hands-on technical work and leadership.
• Insights into the transformative journey from Senior to Staff-Plus, including the essential soft skills and the importance of egoless leadership, open-mindedness, and the ability to foresee and navigate organizational dynamics.
• Concrete examples of "Staff Projects" that demonstrate the scope and scale of impact expected at the Staff-Plus level, offering a roadmap for engineers aspiring to reach and excel in these roles.