[dglass]

Thanks for the feedback. Holloway's platform makes it easy to make revisions, and I plan on updating the content periodically based on feedback like this. Comments from readers in the book itself also help as well to adjust the content over time.

I had a feeling this topic would be a bit controversial on HN :) I tried to address this in the book in the first section of "What Makes You a Senior Engineer?" by talking about the different meanings, and how the software industry doesn't have a standard definition of what a senior engineer role entails. Everyone will have a different opinion on what makes a senior engineer, so I'll try to add more info about the nuances involved in the senior title in future revisions.

[benrow]

If I may suggest some further feedback, I think mentoring is very important at a senior level. Perhaps this could be covered in a chapter in the existing communication section, unless of course I missed something!

I think learning to identify how engineers could improve, and being able to successfully help them, is a big level-up. Departments will want to trust their seniors to do this proactively - rather than say, just when questions come up - as this helps foster a healthy team with everyone growing.

One other point comes to mind on impact - as this is often seen as a key differentiator for senior engineers. It's good to see the section on improving processes in your book, as this is a nice way to add a lot of value. Another way to make an impact is keeping a close eye on product delivery and cycle time, and identifying any problems. For example, is work getting released often, or is it getting stuck in 'nearly done'? Are there frequent blockers to builds or deployments? How is cycle time looking recently, and are there any lurking issues where work is getting blocked frequently? How do we work around this current setback - is there a short term solution to keep things moving while we work on a proper fix? Are we currently on track for delivery?

Managing complexity is another area which can be tough to navigate as a new senior.

Just some thoughts which came to mind, as we all see things from a different perspective.

Overall, I really like the focus of the book. We need more of this stuff and this will help a lot of people, so kudos on the release!

[dglass]

That's some great feedback, thank you! I'll add these to my notes for the upcoming revisions.

There's a section about having a "team-first approach," but I agree with your comment that mentorship is another trait that could even deserve it's own section.