On Becoming a Technical Lead

On Becoming a Technical Lead Buu Nguyen, VP Technology KMS Technology

What is meant by “tech lead”?

Top engineer

Own architecture & critical modules

Mentor other engineers

Assure implementation

quality

Should I become a tech lead? Or how should I choose a career?

Passion

Strength Reward

Passion overcomes challenges

Passion Passion

Come what may at the end, you will have had good time

Passion

Being passionate about something doesn’t mean you can be really good at it

Trying real hard doesn’t guarantee being top

Yourself

Environment

DNA

You are unique, so is your strength

Build your career on it

Is the REWARD good?

What makes a good tech lead? Or what should I do to become a tech lead?

Experience Communication

Professionalism Creativity

Knowledge



Knowledge

Know broad "If you are a .NET programmer, learn Java. If you are a Java programmer, learn Ruby. If you are a C programmer, learn Lisp.”

The Clean Coder, Robert C. Martin

Know deep "You need knowledge of speciUic technologies to do your job, but you need knowledge of software engineering principles to do your job well.”

After the Gold Rush, Steve McConnell

Level Question Hobbyist What is it? Apprentice How to use it? Competent Why is it built? Advanced How is it built? Master Why is it built that way?

The WHWHW Framework

Stay current



Knowledge

The 10,000-‐hour rule “Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good.”

Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell

Not all 10,000 hours are equal “The bottom line on experience is this: If you work for 10 years, do you get 10 years of experience or do you get 1 year of experience 10 times?”

Code Complete, Steve McConnell

Be open-‐minded



Knowledge



Knowledge

Reject the status quo

Work hard on your real needs

Get exposed to ideas “Whenever human beings Uirst organized themselves into settlements that resembled liquid networks, a great Ulowering of innovations would have immediately followed.”

Where Good Ideas Come From, Steven Johnson



Knowledge

Take and accept responsibility “I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.”

Excerpt from the Hippocratic Oath

Career development is your responsibility “You should plan on working 60 hours per week. The Uirst 40 are for your employer. The remaining 20 are for you.”

The Clean Coder, Robert C. Martin

Takeaway

0 Is “tech lead” for you? 0 Know your passion, strength and reward

0 How to become one? 0 Work on your knowledge, experience, communication, creativity and professionalism

Thank You! 0 buunguyen@kms-‐technology.com 0 www.buunguyen.net/blog 0 Online nick: buunguyen 0 Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn 0 Github, CodePlex 0  SlideShare, The Code Project