How I influence tech company politics as a staff software engineer

Senior engineers can influence company politics by aligning their technical plans with emerging organizational priorities and by being strategically prepared.

  • Engineers are tools, not players, in corporate politics: Most technical decisions are shaped by broader political forces and executive priorities; engineers aren’t equipped to "scheme" at the same level.
  • Avoid scheming—focus on contribution: Plotting like a political operator is risky and is best avoided; instead, focus on aligning your work with high-profile organizational goals.
  • Make high-profile projects successful: Contributing to important initiatives (often executive-sponsored) increases your visibility and earns rewards such as promotions and future opportunities.
  • Align pet ideas with company campaigns: Wait for company-wide mandates that align with your personal technical ambitions, allowing executives to sponsor your projects and increasing your political capital.
  • Prepare for waves of organizational interest: Company priorities change—have technical initiatives (e.g., reliability, performance, developer experience) ready to pitch when the climate is ripe.
  • Timing is crucial: Offer the right technical solution to match the current organizational crisis or focus (e.g., billing, developer experience, documentation).
  • Control over what gets funded: If engineers don’t propose good ideas when attention shifts, bad ideas often fill the vacuum; senior engineers should have the right solutions prepared for the moment.
  • Responsibility of senior engineers: Executives expect senior engineers to be ready with effective proposals—failure to do so can bring blame when poor technical decisions are made.
  • Strategic backlog management: Keep several detailed programs of work ready, and suggest the best-fit initiative when organizational needs emerge.
  • Benefits of this approach: When executives set priorities, tailor your technical plans to them. You'll get more technical work done and avoid working on less worthwhile projects.
  • Cynical vs. optimistic view: This strategy enables you to influence outcomes without playing politics aggressively. Either way, it lets you achieve more of your goals.
  • Crisis creates opportunity: The Milton Friedman quote highlights that real change happens in crises; having good ideas "lying around" ensures they're implemented when the moment comes.
  • Summary of the approach: Instead of waiting or becoming cynical, actively prepare and surface important ideas when they become timely, compromising on timing but not on effectiveness.
  • Applicable context: Advice is geared toward generally functional tech companies; may not apply to dysfunctional organizations.

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