The reality of being a director of engineering

A director of engineering shares what the role actually looks like day-to-day, covering the balance between strategic thinking and tactical execution. Key themes include: bridging organizational vision with ground-level work, the critical importance of strong engineering managers, hiring practices, SDLC improvement through metrics like cycle time and PR time, and building influence both within engineering and across the broader business. The author emphasizes that success at this level depends heavily on empowering managers and cultivating internal and external champions rather than doing hands-on technical work.