
My Engineering Management README
Graham M / January 29, 2025
Engineering Manager README
Who I Am
Hi, I'm an engineering leader with over 15 years of experience in SaaS, product-led growth, and software engineering. I’ve co-founded and scaled startups, built high-performing engineering teams, and designed AI-powered tools used by thousands. My leadership philosophy is rooted in ownership, growth, and collaboration.
What You Can Expect From Me
- Clear Communication – Transparency is key. I ensure expectations, priorities, and feedback are communicated openly.
- Autonomy & Trust – I start from a place of trust and empower my teams to take ownership of their work.
- Growth & Development – I am deeply invested in my team’s professional growth. If you work with me, expect regular coaching, mentorship, and career development support.
- Bias for Action – We move fast but with purpose. I encourage experimentation and learning from failures.
- High Standards – I push for excellence but balance it with pragmatism. "Done" is better than "perfect," but "great" is better than "good enough."
What I Expect From My Team
- Ownership & Accountability – Take responsibility for your work and own the outcome.
- Continuous Learning – Stay curious and keep improving, both technically and professionally.
- Collaboration – Work as a team, support each other, and build great things together.
- Customer-Centric Thinking – Understand how your work impacts end users and the business.
- Constructive Feedback – Give and receive feedback with the intent to help each other grow.
My Leadership Style
- Coaching First – My job is to enable your success, not micromanage your work.
- Data-Driven & Outcome-Oriented – I make decisions based on data, impact, and alignment with company goals.
- Empathetic & People-Focused – I care about people as much as I do about results. Psychological safety and well-being matter.
- Adaptable & Pragmatic – Every situation is different. I adjust my approach based on team needs, business priorities, and constraints.
How I Support Career Growth
I believe that engineering careers are not one-size-fits-all. I use a Growth Framework to help team members identify strengths, development areas, and career paths. We work together to create growth plans that align with individual goals and business needs.
Expect regular 1:1 meetings where we:
- Discuss career aspirations and skill development
- Set and review quarterly growth goals
- Identify stretch opportunities, mentorship, and leadership paths
How I Approach Engineering
Technical Decision-Making
I believe in modular, scalable, and maintainable software design. My approach to engineering balances innovation with pragmatism. When making technical decisions, I prioritize:
- Scalability & Performance – Thinking long-term to avoid future bottlenecks.
- Developer Experience – Optimizing for maintainability and productivity.
- Security & Reliability – Ensuring our systems are resilient and trustworthy.
Processes & Workflow
- Agile, but Pragmatic – I lean towards Agile methodologies, but I don't blindly follow rituals that don't add value.
- CI/CD & Automation – We automate what makes sense and continuously improve our release process.
- Metrics & Observability – I believe in monitoring system health, developer velocity, and user impact.
My Approach to Feedback
- Frequent & Actionable – Feedback shouldn't be a surprise. I give real-time, constructive feedback regularly.
- Two-Way Street – I also expect feedback on how I can better support the team.
- Celebrate Wins – Recognition is crucial. I make sure great work is seen and appreciated.
How I Handle Conflict
Disagreements happen. That’s normal. My approach to conflict resolution is:
- Address it early – Don’t let frustrations fester.
- Assume good intent – People usually mean well, even if there’s a disagreement.
- Facilitate a solution – I help navigate to a resolution that works for everyone involved.
Let’s Build Something Great
Engineering leadership is about building great products and great teams. If you work with me, expect a culture of ownership, learning, and collaboration. Let's build, grow, and have fun doing it!