Marcus Smith
TAG:
engineering-management
Blog Posts
Engineering Manager vs Tech Lead at Meta
I've done both jobs — Engineering Manager and individual contributor Tech Lead. Same level, two very different jobs. Here are the real differences and tradeoffs between leading a team and leading from inside one.
August 2, 2026
How to Prepare for Software Engineering Manager Interviews at Big Tech
After transitioning from CTO to Engineering Manager at Meta, I'm sharing the technical and behavioral preparation strategies that worked—from system design practice to using AI for behavioral interview prep with the STAR method.
November 22, 2025
How to Run a Software Engineering Project War Room
A guide to facilitating project war rooms at startups and Big Tech, keeping momentum, accountability, and decisions moving fast toward a code freeze
May 16, 2026
Cheatsheet Posts