Engineering Career Advancement Strategies

No company can give you the most exciting, challenging, and impactful project around the year, so the ups and downs in the kind of work you'd get are expected. On average, you would get 4 months of high-impact work, 4 months of moderate work, and 4 months of mundane work in a year. Instead of feeling bad about it, leverage the time and energy to advance your career and secure more impactful projects in the future. Remember, the most important and impactful project is not given to the smartest engineer, but it is given to the one holding the track record of getting things done well and on time. The trust you instill by doing grunt work or maintenance would and should put you in a position to get the most impactful project. Given that the maintenance work does not eat up a lot of your mental bandwidth, use this breathing room to identify more significant problems within your organization. Spend time digging deeper into systemic issues, find a solution, create a project plan, and present it to the leadership. This showcases your initiative and capacity for impactful contributions. When I was given some mundane work, I used the additional time to figure out the root cause of recurring outages and proposed an architecture change to solve it once and for all. Because I was thorough with my homework, it became a no-brainer for leadership to approve. You can also use this time to enhance your visibility and influence within your organization. The easiest of all is to use this time to hold tech talks and mentor early engineers. These interactions will make it more likely that you'll be top of mind when exciting projects are conceived. To be honest, this is what I did at all of my stints across all the companies I have worked at. I gave talks on some of the lessons learned from past projects, new industry trends, or introductions to new technologies. This helped me establish a good reputation within the org. Remember, every phase cannot be exciting, but it is important to know how to leverage it well. Impactful projects will not be served to you on a silver platter, you need to earn it. ⚡ I keep writing and sharing my practical experience and learnings every day, so if you resonate then follow along. I keep it no fluff. youtube.com/c/ArpitBhayani #AsliEngineering #CareerGrowth

Here's the leadership strategy that propelled me to Principal Engineer at Google: "I push rocks down hills." This is the pithiest summary of Principal Engineer-ing that I've come up with, and it's a major part of how I approach exec-level engineering leadership. Moving up the career ladder as an engineer is about finding leverage: ways to produce more value per unit of time. You can grow your skills so you can handle harder projects and finish them faster. You can improve your judgment so you identify opportunities that produce more value for the effort. You can lead teams, so your skills and judgment get magnified across more contributors. One way to magnify your output as a leader is by turning a hard problem into an easy problem. Something I've observed over time is that it's a lot more challenging to start a project than to keep a project moving in the same direction. The first few commits, the project outline, the high-level architecture: these are the hardest and the most consequential challenges. Once the skeleton is in place, it's harder for a project to run off the rails. Starting projects is hard; maintaining that momentum is comparatively easy. This leads to the discipline of pushing rocks down hills. Your goal isn't to drive a project to completion; it's to impart enough momentum to the project that it will cross the finish line even if you stop paying attention to it. The goal is to build teams that don't need you. Don't build teams with yourself at the center: build teams with yourself on the outside. Once a problem is moving under its own momentum, it's no longer a high-leverage place to spend your time. You can move on. It's time to push a different rock down the hill. One consequence is that you will start more projects than you finish. Not because the projects *don't* finish, but because *you're* not the one driving them over the line. You need to have the humility to step back and give credit to the folks who finish the job. Scaling yourself means taking a smaller share of credit for a larger number of projects.

Ever seen a city without an architect? Buildings rise, but roads don’t align. Pipes leak. Traffic jams become the norm. That’s what many data teams look like—developers everywhere, but few architects connecting it all. Data Engineers, it’s time to level up! 75% of technical companies are facing significant talent gaps, a situation exacerbated by alarming retention rates. This reality raises a crucial question: How can we bridge this skills gap and nurture more resilient career paths in tech? Transition from a Data Engineer to Architect with the step-by-step guide from my experiences: Most Data Engineers are closer to becoming Data Architects than they think. It’s not about abandoning engineering—it’s about elevating it. Let’s break it down: 🛠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 (𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) - SQL, Python, ETL Pipelines - Data Warehousing & Modeling - Orchestration tools like Airflow - Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) - Tools like dbt, Spark, Kafka These are your building blocks. But they’re just the beginning. 📚 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 - Data Governance & Security: Understand compliance, lineage, and access control - Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormation for scalable infra - Advanced Modeling: Star/Snowflake schemas, domain-driven design - Cost Optimization: Architecting for performance and budget - Metadata & Master Data Management: Designing for discoverability and consistency 🧠 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 From “How do I build this pipeline?” → To “How do I design a platform that scales across teams?” From “Let’s fix this bug” → To “Let’s prevent this class of issues system-wide” From “I own this DAG” → To “I own the data ecosystem” 🧭 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁’𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 ✓ Aligning data strategy with business goals ✓ Designing resilient, scalable systems ✓ Mentoring engineers and influencing org-wide decisions ✓ Communicating with stakeholders, not just writing code Here's the reality? - This takes more time upfront. - Costs more initially. - Requires new hires. But the payoff? - Scalable systems that actually work. - Data teams that deliver value. - Business stakeholders who trust your data. Data Engineers, buckle up to level as a Data Architect! Find a project that INFLUENCES your team to INSPIRE and be more innovative. Image Credits: Deepak Bhardwaj 💬 So here's my question: What's the one architectural decision you wish someone had taught you earlier?

💎 How To Track Your Impact (+ free Notion templates). How to document your small and big wins, visualize your work and the incredible impact you've made ↓ We often assume that good work speaks for itself. If we just work hard enough, our work will get noticed and we will be elevated across our career ladder. Yet more often than not, your achievements will get lost somewhere between reorg efforts, new priorities, abandoned initiatives and urgent deadlines. Managers change all the time. You might have a strong relationship with your manager already, but never get a chance to move up the ladder because they have already moved to another team. A new manager, despite all your efforts, often won’t be able to promote you as an internal policy might block any new promotions in their first 6 or 12 months. So you’ll have to start over again. A good way to push back is to have a “brag document” — a running document that lists your small and big achievements, feedback from your managers and colleagues, screenshots of your appraisals and recommendations, along with lessons you’ve learned. It also builds confidence in your abilities and helps you better see your career trajectory. Useful things to include: 🧠 New skills you’ve learned 🏅 New certificates you’ve acquired ⏱️ Impactful projects you’ve leaunched 🧪 Experiments or A/B tests you’ve initiated 🧭 Product metrics you’ve moved 👋 Onboarding sessions you helped with 🚀 Changes you’ve initiated 🗣️ Workshops you’ve conducted 🧑🏫 Mentoring sessions you’ve coached 🌟 Endorsements you’ve received 🤝 Collaboration wins across departments 🧹 How you’ve dealt with design debt 📦 Successful scoping and getting buy-in 🛠️ Tools or systems you’ve introduced 🔧 Bugs or issues you proactively resolved 📣 Coordinating communication in teams 🔮 Lessons you’ve learned 🧯 Conflicts you’ve resolved There are plenty of things that can go in such a document. Typically it’s a simple Notion page or a Google Doc that you set up once and keep updating regularly. One useful habit that can help there is to always update the document after a retrospective session with your team and around a month later. The reason for that is that you’ll need to accumulate and add concrete evidence and results of the impact of your work. Typically business metrics are lagging metrics, so it will take a while until you get some results. One word of caution: it doesn’t work well if you update in huge and bulky batches as memories become a bit blurry and details get lost. Also, don’t think just about the design work — work also happens outside of the design work as we saw in the list above. Also, as Stephen Kernan noted once, whenever possible, try linking your accomplishments to the career ladder one level above your current role. If you can prove that you’ve been performing at the next level for past 3-6 months, you will make the case for your promotion strong and more obvious. (Useful templates in the comments below ↓)

Chemical and process engineers are the masterminds behind some of the world's most essential products, from life-saving drugs to clean energy solutions. But with such a broad and dynamic field, navigating your career path can be tricky. So, how do you climb the ladder to success in this exciting industry? Here are 5 proven strategies to propel your chemical and process engineering career to new heights: 1. Master the Craft: Sharpen your tech: Stay ahead of the curve with conferences, courses, and niche expertise. Certifications like ChE or Eur Ing add shine. Become a knowledge magnet: Devour industry publications, attend workshops, and embrace continuous learning. 2. Soft Skills Matter: Communication is king: Present with clarity, collaborate effectively, and build trust with colleagues. Leadership skills are your secret weapon. Teamwork makes the dream work: Value diverse perspectives, work seamlessly with others, and build a strong network. 3. Expand Your Horizon: Connect with the tribe: Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and leverage social media to connect with mentors and influencers. Embrace the unknown: Don't shy away from challenging projects or international assignments. Growth lies outside your comfort zone. 4. Take the Leap: Be proactive: Don't wait for opportunities, chase them! Research potential employers, network with decision-makers, and express your hunger for growth. Embrace change: Be adaptable, pivot your career if needed, and view challenges as stepping stones to success. 5. Keep the Flame Burning: Never stop learning: Curiosity is your fuel. Read, explore, and embrace online resources to stay ahead of the curve. Passion is your compass: Remember why you started this journey. Find meaning in your projects, and never lose sight of your goals. #chemicalengineering #processengineer #netzero #decarbonization #career

The professionals who advance fastest aren't necessarily the highest performers - they're the best documenters.   The challenge many professionals face: Outstanding work without strategic documentation.   Performance reviews and promotion discussions often rely on recent memory and subjective impressions.   However, careers are built on cumulative value creation that extends beyond the most recent quarter.   The solution: A comprehensive "Brag Book" that transforms achievements into promotion-worthy evidence.   The slides above outline a systematic approach to documenting: • Quantifiable business impact with specific metrics • Cost-saving initiatives with measurable outcomes • Team development results with concrete examples • Problem-solving capabilities under pressure • External recognition and professional growth   Key principle: If you can't measure it and document it, it becomes subjective opinion rather than objective evidence.   This documentation serves multiple strategic purposes: • Performance review preparation • Promotion justification • Salary negotiation support • Interview preparation for external opportunities   The most successful professionals I work with treat career documentation as seriously as financial record-keeping.   What significant achievement from this year have you properly documented for future career discussions?   Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #promotion #careeradvancement #careergrowth

I get this question a lot: “How did you transition from engineering to business?” The truth? I never really left engineering; instead, I just repurposed it. Here’s how my engineering background became my unfair advantage in business: ⤷ #Systems Thinking – Engineering trained me to break down complex systems. In business, this means seeing the bigger picture, connecting strategy, execution, and impact. ⤷ #ProblemSolving at Scale – From optimizing data acquistion in oil and gas wells to developing strategy and execution plan for businesses, I’ve learned that structured problem-solving works in any field. ⤷ #DataDriven Decisions – Engineers trust data over gut feel, a mindset that has helped me manage risk and drive growth in any portfolio companies that I manage. But business also taught me what engineering didn’t: ⤷ #Ambiguity is the norm – There’s no perfect formula. Making big decisions with incomplete info is part of the game. ⤷ #People drive results – Numbers tell a story, but relationships, influence, and leadership make the difference. ⤷ #Adaptability wins – Unlike engineering blueprints, business landscapes shift constantly. The ability to pivot is crucial. I didn’t switch careers... ...I combine the strengths of both worlds. And that makes a huge difference. What unexpected skills have helped you in your career? Let’s discuss in the comments! ________ Like what you read? Then click that like button, share this post, and follow me for more pragmatic tips into #career, #leadership, and #growth.

"I never know what to post on LinkedIn" I get asked this question almost every day. Guess what? It’s not rocket science. The secret sauce? It’s storytelling. Everyone is writing posts that sound like they were copy-pasted from ChatGPT. Generic. Bland. Forgettable. The only way to stand out is to make it personal. Share your experiences, your voice, your take. That’s what makes people stop scrolling. Let’s break it down: 1/ Start with your pillars Your pillars are the foundation of what you talk about. These are the themes that define you, topics you know, care about, and can add value to. For example: - Marketing strategies - Leadership lessons - Overcoming challenges Your pillars should make sense for who you are and what you do. No random stuff like your love for craft beers (unless you’re in the beer industry). Stay focused. 2/ Ideas come from your life Ideas don’t fall from the sky. Look at what’s happening around you: - What questions do people ask you? - What problems have you solved? - What stories from your journey can you share? When something clicks, write it down. Create a simple repository of ideas tied to your pillars. This makes posting easier and keeps your content aligned. 3/ Add your personal touch This is everything. A strategy or insight is great, but what makes it stand out is you. - Share the “why” behind your post. - Talk about a real moment where this topic impacted you. - Show your personality, it’s what people connect with. Remember, anyone can post a list of “10 LinkedIn tips” or “5 leadership lessons.” What makes your post different is your unique spin, your voice, your perspective, your story. So, to sum it up: Know your pillars. Build a repository. Tell your story. And most importantly, stop overthinking it. Just start.

The Skills Hardware Companies Are Desperately Looking For After reviewing hundreds of job postings and speaking with dozens of hiring managers, I've noticed a massive gap between what universities teach and what companies actually need. This gap creates a unique opportunity for engineers willing to develop specific, high-value skills that are in short supply. Most In-Demand PCB Design Skills in 2025: 1. DFX Implementation Not just theory—companies need engineers who can: Create manufacturing documentation that contract manufacturers can follow Design for testing with proper access points Apply DFX principles during design, not as an afterthought 2. EMC/EMI Compliance With wireless connectivity everywhere: Practical experience with emissions testing Pre-compliance testing methodology Designing for EMC from the beginning 3. High-Speed Digital Implementation Impedance control beyond basics Proper stackup design for signal integrity Managing cross-talk in dense designs 4. Constraint Management Nearly every hiring manager mentions this: Setting up and managing design rules Creating constraint sets for different design sections Building reusable constraint templates 5. Design Reviews & Validation Companies need engineers who can: Conduct thorough, systematic reviews Create comprehensive validation plans Document findings to improve future designs The Opportunity Most of these skills require moderate technical knowledge but significant hands-on experience—exactly what universities don't provide. Engineers with these specialized skills command 30-40% higher salaries than their generalist counterparts, plus get the most interesting projects and better advancement opportunities. Don't try to learn everything at once. Focus on developing expertise in ONE high-demand area that aligns with your current experience, then gradually expand. Question for hardware engineers: Which of these in-demand skills would most benefit your career if you developed deep expertise in it? Get a head start on these high-demand skills with "Hardware Foundations" - my 12-week PCB Design program. First 50 spots at just $97 with coupon code "MYSTART" (regular price $197). Link in comments. #HardwareEngineering #PCBDesign #CareerAdvancement

What if career growth wasn’t just about luck, but about following proven strategies? These actionable steps helped immensely in my career growth. 1. Excel in Your Current Role (Most Critical): Consistently meet or exceed expectations. A proven track record builds the foundation for future opportunities. 2. Align with Organization Goals: Understand your organization’s top priorities and demonstrate how your work contributes directly to them. 3. Seek Feedback Actively: Ask for constructive insights and act on them. This commitment to growth truly makes a difference. 4. Develop New Skills: Invest in training and learning opportunities to stay current with industry trends and keep your skills sharp. 5. Network Internally: Build relationships across departments. Gaining visibility beyond your immediate team shows you’re a collaborative team player. 6. Volunteer for New Assignments: Step up to take on responsibilities beyond your current role. Initiative today can lead to larger opportunities tomorrow. 7. Express Your Career Aspirations: Have open conversations with your manager about your professional interests and goals. It’s not just about a promotion—it’s about sharing where you see your future and how you plan to contribute to the company’s success. 8. Mentoring: Seek mentors to accelerate your learning and also become a mentor to others to support their growth. 9. Maintain Integrity and Authenticity: Express your genuine views respectfully. Authenticity sets you apart and builds lasting trust. 10. Stay Resilient and Patient: Career growth takes time. Keep delivering excellence and demonstrating your value—the results will follow. What strategies have helped you achieve your career goals? I’d love to hear your story! #leadership #career #technology