Main Responsibilities Of A Tech Lead At Google
Jay's role as a Tech Lead at Google is a 50/50 split between coding and "all other tasks," including project planning, stakeholder alignment, feasibility assessments, and team support. This highlights the multifaceted nature of a tech lead role, requiring both strong technical skills and effective leadership abilities to orchestrate projects and guide the team.
Coding, Project Management, Teamwork, Communication, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jay Zelenkov
Software Engineer; Tech Lead
Munich University of Applied Sciences, 2012
N/A
Computer Science
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
International Student, Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Jay's role as a Tech Lead at Google involves a balance of coding (50%) and project planning/stakeholder management (50%).
2. He emphasizes the importance of project planning, working with Product Managers (PMs), and aligning with stakeholders on technical feasibility and timelines.
3. Jay highlights his role in supporting his team, creating tasks, and pushing back on unrealistic timelines.
Transcript
What are your main responsibilities within your current role?
My current role at Google is a tech lead. I describe it as an engineering role, where about 50% of my time is spent on coding.
The other 50% is spent on all other tasks. This includes project planning, working with program managers, and collaborating with different stakeholders. I ensure alignment on our understanding of the vision and verify that it's technically feasible to deliver within the defined timelines. I also push back when necessary and create tasks for my team to execute, while also supporting them in various ways.