The Developing Dev

Ricky (@findingricky) went from Junior (IC3) to Staff (IC6) at Google by 28. He doesn’t consider himself the best engineer, instead crediting his blend of technical and soft skills for his ability to land promotions quickly. In our conversation, we discuss:• Managing your manager• Finding good projects (and rejecting bad ones)• Imposter syndrome• Switching from IC to engineering management• Work-life balance—Where to find Ricky:• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@findingricky • YouTube: https://youtube.com/@findingrickyWhere to find Ryan:• Newsletter: https://www.developing.dev/• X: https://x.com/ryanlpeterman• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ryanlpeterman• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ryanlpeterman• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@ryanlpetermanIn this episode, we cover:00:00 – Intro01:08 – Promotion timeline02:34 – Junior to Mid-level04:24 – Finding independence10:39 – Mid-level to Senior11:20 – Learning how to say no17:26 – Senior to Staff20:18 – Finding next-level work23:42 – Transitioning to management33:46 – Reflections This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.developing.dev

Zach Wilson is an engineer who grew to Staff (IC6) at Airbnb by age 26. He worked at Meta, Netflix, Airbnb and more recently has started his own company. In our conversation, we discuss:• His promotion from Junior (IC3) to Mid-level (IC4) at Meta• What blocked his promotion to Senior (IC5) at Meta• Job hopping to Senior at Netflix instead• Burning out at Netflix when given Staff scope• Negotiating Staff at Airbnb• Regrets & learnings—Where to find Zach Wilson:• Instagram: https://instagram.com/eczachly/• X: https://x.com/EcZachly• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@eczachly• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eczachly/• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EcZachly_• Newsletter: https://blog.dataengineer.io/Where to find Ryan:• Newsletter: https://www.developing.dev/• X: https://x.com/ryanlpeterman• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlpeterman/• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ryanlpetermanIn this episode, we cover:00:27 Introducing Zach Wilson03:14 Landing a Job at Facebook06:33 Choosing the Right Team at Facebook07:28 IC3 to IC4 at Meta13:54 Trying for IC5 at Meta23:49 Getting hired as an IC5 at Netflix39:49 Negotiating IC6 at Airbnb52:09 Building internal brand when job hopping56:55 Reflection & learnings This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.developing.dev