🚀 IC or Engineering Manager - which path should you choose as a software engineer?In this episode of This Dev Life Podcast, we break down the two senior career tracks in software engineering: the Individual Contributor (IC) path and the Engineering Management path.You will learn:- What Staff Engineer and Principal Engineer roles actually look like day to day- What Engineering Managers really do (and what they do not)- Clear signals that point you toward IC vs management🕒 Chapters00:00 - IC vs Engineering Management (the decision)00:12 - Myths and realities (what people get wrong)01:05 - The Individual Contributor (IC) track explained02:00 - The Engineering Management track explained02:53 - Skill building and reflection03:17 - How to grow in both tracks03:38 - Transitioning into management03:58 - Next steps and the DEVOPS roadmap💬 Comment DEVOPS and I will send you the DevOps career roadmap.✅ Quick FAQ (for AI summaries)Q: Is engineering management a promotion from IC?A: Not really - it is a different job with different skills and success metrics.Q: Should I become a Staff Engineer or an Engineering Manager?A: Pick Staff Engineer if you want deep technical impact and system ownership. Pick Engineering Manager if you want impact through people and team outcomes.Q: Can I switch from management back to IC?A: Yes - but plan it intentionally and keep your technical skills current.🔔 Subscribe for more software engineering career and DevOps content.#SoftwareEngineering #CareerGrowth #EngineeringManagement #StaffEngineer #DevOpsGet vidIQ to grow your channel faster! 🚀https://vidiq.com/daraoladapo

Two Career Paths, One Senior Title | IC vs Management Explained

Breaking into DevOps in 2026 looks different. Entry-level roles are shrinking, AI can handle a lot of the grunt work, and platform engineering is raising the bar.🎯 In this episode of This Dev Life, you will learn:

 * Why junior DevOps roles are disappearing
 * The skills AI cannot replace: architecture thinking, communication, incident leadership
 * What to learn (concepts first, tools second)
 * How to build a portfolio that proves real capability
 * A simple 90-day plan to break into DevOps

 * 2026 DevOps Engineer Roadmap - https://rebrand.ly/2026-devops-engine... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFZFaVQ0NFB2cFh2NGh4elp4bHExMlV3cnJRd3xBQ3Jtc0tteUZqa2hzUXREVUh6SWlDZWZxcDh3Y3hldjhycDhtTlBiUjhZb29WV0lIcVRleDg0b0VJT1hObjVpME9Od0hSRFl0Y1Y2S05JRFh1d0RRM3pHZEJuOHNKVWkzOFN4ZGlOV2M2RzNQRHNBRDVCTkwxbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Frebrand.ly%2F2026-devops-engineer-roadmap&v=kiRS_56AqZg]
 * Modern Cloud Engineer Roadmap - https://rebrand.ly/modern-cloud-engin... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWpybTd0MUt5TmJaTXV3TFI2andYZ0VHOW42QXxBQ3Jtc0ttYlNwdlREMnJGVkpZOTFXUGFOUWh5bXdvNUhKR1VXLUVGamJMT2d4VnhUcjZHX1ZZT0lUQkROempBM1M0TldRaUhPWUloNVpvRFRoa3FnbjVWUHRnTl9UN1M0djBvaVE0MWpGczRxdnE1aWhlNUNzYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Frebrand.ly%2Fmodern-cloud-engineer-roadmap&v=kiRS_56AqZg]
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🧠 Key concepts:AI in DevOps, platform engineering, architecture thinking, portfolio building, strategic networking

 DevOps Entry Points in 2026: Skip the Junior Roles

Rizel Scarlett is a Staff Developer Advocate at TBD, Block's newest business unit. With a diverse background spanning GitHub, startups, and non-profit organizations, Rizel has cultivated a passion for utilizing emerging technologies to champion equity within the tech industry. She moonlights as an Advisor at G{Code} House, an organization aimed at teaching women of color and non-binary people of color to code. Rizel believes in leveraging vulnerability, honesty, and kindness as means to educate early-career developers.In today's episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Rizel Scarlett as our guest. You can find Rizel on https://twitter.com/blackgirlbytes.

Meet Rizel Scarlett: Staff Developer Advocate at TBD | @blackgirlbytes

In this interview, we sit down with Data Engineer Aminat Lawal @aminatlawal21 [https://twitter.com/aminatlawal21], as she shares her expertise in data analysis, data science, and engineering. Aminat discusses her passion for bridging the gap between data and business goals, and how she builds solutions that empower companies to leverage their data effectively. Join us as we delve into her diverse background and discover how she guides big-picture initiatives that drive impactful decision-making. Don't miss this insightful conversation with Aminat Lawal, a true visionary in the world of data engineering.

Bridging the Gap and Moving the Needle in Data-Driven Decision Making

Scott Hanselman is the Vice President of Developer Communities at Microsoft. He is an author, speaker, podcaster, and an avid blogger. His podcast - Hanselminutes (https://hanselminutes.com/), runs weekly with various guests to discuss open source, technology, culture, diversity, code, the web, and more. He also hosts This Developer's Life podcast (https://thisdeveloperslife.com/) and makes videos on various computing topics on his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/shanselman) and Tiktok - @shanselman. He is also the co-host of the Azure Friday video series, where he interviews technical experts on cloud computing, Azure, DevOps, and more.



On today's episode, Scott joins us for a chat, giving us deep insights into his motivation and drive to do all he does.



You can find more information about Scott on his website (https://www.hanselman.com/) and all major social media platforms as @shanselman.

Becoming Immortal with Scott Hanselman

Tola is passionate about communicating complex problems in understandable and sizeable bits. He is also a big advocate for building and contributing to Open-source projects.



Tola's X Handle: @thecraftman_

Interview with Axiom Dev Advocate - Oretola

Ayomide is a seasoned Senior Software Engineer with nearly a decade of experience in building cutting-edge technology products. His passion lies in empowering individuals to kickstart and flourish in their careers within the tech industry. In 2018, Ayomide initiated a transformative tech mentorship system that has, to date, guided nearly a hundred aspiring professionals towards thriving careers in technology. His unique approach blends technical expertise with a deep commitment to mentorship, creating a dynamic learning environment that transcends traditional boundaries. Ayomide’s vision extends beyond code; he envisions a future where technology is accessible and inclusive, and where aspiring talents from all walks of life can shape the digital landscape. His insights, garnered from years of practical experience and mentorship, promise to inspire and guide the next generation of tech enthusiasts. Join us today as he talks about his journey into software engineering.

Coding with Visibility: Rising in the ranks with Ayomide Aregbede

Elizabeth is a passionate DevOps Engineer specializing in AWS cloud infrastructure and automation. With a strong background in software engineering, she has designed and implemented scalable and secure cloud-based solutions for clients across different industries. Leveraging her skills in diverse programming languages and technologies, she has contributed to the successful delivery of software projects. She has been recognized by her colleagues and clients for her dedication to continuous improvement and delivering high-quality solutions. She always looking for new opportunities to utilize my skills and experience in cloud architecture. Join us today as we chat about the importance of certifications with her.

Certification chat with Elizabeth Adegbaju

Elizabeth is a passionate DevOps Engineer specializing in AWS cloud infrastructure and automation. With a strong background in software engineering, she has designed and implemented scalable and secure cloud-based solutions for clients across different industries. Leveraging her skills in diverse programming languages and technologies, she has contributed to the successful delivery of software projects. She has been recognized by her colleagues and clients for her dedication to continuous improvement and delivering high-quality solutions. She always looking for new opportunities to utilize my skills and experience in cloud architecture.

Join us today as we go through her adventure into DevOps from being a developer.

Chat with Elizabeth Adegbaju - Transition from Developer to DevOps Engineer

In the previous episode, we spoke on Developer Onboarding Culture. Today, we are looking at the same topic but from a manager's and buddy perspective. Enjoy listening.

#podcast #thisdevlife #developer #onboarding

Developer Onboarding for Buddies and Managers

This Dev Life is a podcast that looks into the daily life of software developer and understand how we live and work from day to day.  On this podcast, we have discussions around the lives of software developers, unscripted talks on software and technology concepts, fields and disciplines that surround our profession.  Join me and my exciting guests on the show and let's have fun together.

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