I'm a software engineer - what next? – Details, episodes & analysis

I’m a Software Engineer — what next? S01E01 Carlton Lane - Boundary Conditions

"I'm a Software Engineer, What Next?" is a podcast for software engineers at a career crossroads.

Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and veteran software engineer Matt Sinclair, it offers insights into navigating career transitions from individual contributor roles to management and beyond.

Featuring discussions on personal growth and leadership, this podcast guides engineers seeking career direction and development. Join us to explore the paths and possibilities that lie ahead in the tech industry.

In this episode, we speak with Carlton Lane, a storied software engineer and leader who has traversed the boundary conditions of engineering, management, and leadership multiple times.

He has a great story about working in different cultures in Australia, North America, China, and the UK. He has been lucky enough to go forward into management and leadership, working with great teams around the world and intentionally making the transition to go back to hands-on software development.

This is a fantastic chat with a great engineer with a lot of wisdom to impart.

Guest:

Carlton Lane: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carltonlane/

Links:

Axon: https://www.axon.com/

Hosts:

Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsinclair/-

James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-92170656/

Related:

https://whatnext.dev- https://matthewsinclair.com/-

https://quantumfaxmachine.com

I'm a Software Engineer - What Next? S01E00 Pilot - James and Matt

"I'm a Software Engineer - What Next?" is a podcast for software engineers at a career crossroads. It is hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and veteran software engineer Matthew Sinclair and offers insights into navigating career transitions from individual contributor roles to management and beyond.

This podcast, featuring discussions on personal growth and leadership, is a guide for engineers seeking direction and growth in their careers.

Join us to explore the paths and possibilities that lie ahead in the tech industry.

Show Notes:

James Wilson on LinkedIn

Matthew Sinclair on LinkedIn

Matthew Sinclair's Blog(s)

"Everyone lies to leaders" -- Jade Rubick

"Attitude, Altitude, Agency" -- Matthew Sinclair

"The 5Cs" -- Matthew Sinclair

Quantum Fax Machine (reading lists on selected topics)

I'm a Software Engineer — what next? S01E02 Michael Smith (CEO Sagittal) - Frameworks

"I'm a Software Engineer, What Next?" is a podcast for software engineers at a career crossroads. Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and veteran software engineer Matt Sinclair, it offers insights into navigating career transitions from individual contributor roles to management and beyond. Featuring discussions on personal growth and leadership, this podcast guides engineers seeking career direction and development. Join us to explore the paths and possibilities that lie ahead in the tech industry.

In this episode, we speak with Michael Smith, CEO of Sagittal.AI, a seasoned expert in software and related digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and, more recently, AI-enhanced software engineering team productivity. In this wide-ranging conversation, we tackle everything from the early days of software engineering to the role of AI in development to the best frameworks for managing the complexity of people, processes, and technologies.

Guest:

Michael Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myksmith/

Links:

Sagittal.AI: https://www.sagittal.ai

Cynefin Framework: https://thecynefin.co/about-us/about-cynefin-framework

Hosts:

Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsinclair/

James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-92170656/

Related:

https://whatnext.dev

https://matthewsinclair.com/

https://quantumfaxmachine.com

I'm a Software Engineer — what next? S01E03 Danielle Ullner - VC and PE

I'm a Software Engineer, What Next?" is a podcast for software engineers at a career crossroads.

Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and veteran software engineer Matt Sinclair, it offers insights into navigating career transitions from individual contributor roles to management and beyond. Featuring discussions on personal growth and leadership, this podcast guides engineers seeking career direction and development. Join us to explore the paths and possibilities that lie ahead in the tech industry.

In this episode, we speak with Danielle Ullner, a veteran venture builder with extensive experience in the US VC space as an operator and executor and, more recently, with BCG Digital Ventures and BCG X in London and North America. She helps us, as engineers, understand how to work with one of the most critical segments of the digital venture building workforce: VCs.

Guest:

Danielle Ullner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-blumberg-ullner/

Links:

Desirability, Viability, and Feasibility: https://www.uxdesigninstitute.com/blog/desirability-viability-and-feasibility/

Manager README: https://managerreadme.com/

Hosts:

- Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsinclair/

- James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-92170656/

Related:

- https://whatnext.dev

- https://matthewsinclair.com/

- https://quantumfaxmachine.com

Are you a React developer, or just someone who uses React?In this episode of What Next?, Matt and James dig into:Why engineers get stuck identifying with tools, not skillsWhat hiring managers often look forHow to stand out by showing how you think, not just what you knowWhy AI will amplify your strengths, or your mistakesWe go deep on how engineers can future-proof their careers by thinking beyond the resume buzzwords.Original Linkedin Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/james-...🎧 15 minutes. Zero fluff. Tune in now.

In our first short episode Matt and James dive into something every hiring manager and recruiter has faced:

• Candidates who seem like a great fit — strong CV, good early interviews — but don’t make it through.
• Or, just as often, the ones that slip through the cracks but might have been the right hire.
• Drawing on Matt’s years of experience leading engineering teams, we talk through:
• Why hiring starts with understanding the real problem you’re solving
• How the cost of a “wrong hire” compares to the risk of missing the right person
• What makes hiring for deep tech roles fundamentally different from product-focused startups
• Why values alignment can matter more than technical brilliance
• What engineers should look for when evaluating whether a startup is worth joiningIf you're scaling a team or navigating your next move as an engineer, this episode offers a grounded look at where things go right — and wrong — in the hiring process.

🔎 Full episodes & show notes at whatnext.dev

I'm a Software Engineer ~ what next?

S01E05 A short mid-season review of where we are going next"I'm a Software Engineer ~ What Next?" is a podcast for software engineers at a career crossroads. Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and veteran software engineer Matt Sinclair, it offers insights into navigating career transitions from individual contributor roles to management and beyond. Featuring discussions on personal growth and leadership, this podcast guides engineers seeking career direction and development. Join us to explore the paths and possibilities that lie ahead in the tech industry.In this episode, we reflect on what we've learned from making the first four episodes of the podcast—what worked, what didn't, and where we want to take things next. We talk about refining the format, improving audio quality, and getting better at planning and post-production. We also share our goals for the rest of Season 1 and how we hope to keep improving the experience for listeners.Whether you're an engineer, a manager, or someone looking for inspiration to navigate your career path, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.Shoutouts:

• A special shoutout to Kenneth Ekow from Scale Story, who gave us a ton of great feedback on the first four episodes, some of which we will (hopefully) put into practice in the next episodes!
• Keneth Ekow:   / helloekow  

Hosts:

• Scale Story: https://www.scale-story.com/

• Matt:   / matthewsinclair  
• James:   / james-wilson-92170656  

Related:

• https://whatnext.dev
• https://matthewsinclair.com/
• https://quantumfaxmachine.com

I'm a Software Engineer — what next? S01E04 Swapnali Bhansali - Navigating Career Growth, Leadership, and Challenges

I'm a Software Engineer, What Next?" is a podcast for software engineers at a career crossroads. Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and veteran software engineer Matt Sinclair, it offers insights into navigating career transitions from individual contributor roles to management and beyond. Featuring discussions on personal growth and leadership, this podcast guides engineers seeking career direction and development. Join us to explore the paths and possibilities that lie ahead in the tech industry.

In this episode, we sit down with Swapnali Bhansali, a seasoned engineering leader and software quality expert, to discuss her journey navigating career transitions, international moves, and the challenges of stepping into leadership roles as a woman in tech. From starting her career as a campus recruit at Yahoo to becoming a senior leader in the UK, Swapnali shares candid insights on overcoming professional setbacks, breaking through biases, and redefining leadership on her own terms. She opens up about the barriers women face in corporate spaces—whether it’s returning to work after maternity leave, being overlooked for senior roles, or simply making their voices heard in male-dominated rooms.

We explore:

- The hidden cost of poor software quality and how to build a culture of excellence

- The reality of international career moves and adapting to new work environments

- How to transition from an individual contributor to a leadership role—twice

- The challenges women face when re-entering the workforce after career breaks

- Practical advice for allies, hiring managers, and leaders on supporting diverse teams

Whether you’re an engineer, a manager, or someone looking for inspiration to navigate your career path, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

Guest:

- Swapnali Bhansali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapnalibhansali/

Hosts:

- Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsinclair/

- James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-92170656/

Related:

- https://whatnext.dev

- https://matthewsinclair.com/

- https://quantumfaxmachine.com

00:00 Swapnali’s Episode Intro

05:28 How Experience Has Shaped Swapnali’s View on Hiring

13:36 Challenges Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

21:46 Advice for Female Engineers Moving into Leadership

30:03 How Allies Can Support Women in the Workplace

In this episode of What Next? I'm a Software Engineer, James Wilson is joined by Matthew Sinclair to unpack how AI is changing the way engineers work, code, and think.

They discuss:

Why AI is both a superpower and a trap

The shift from imperative to declarative computing

How tools like Claude can help you rubber-duck a spec

Why engineers who refuse to adapt may fall behind

What hiring managers are really looking for in the age of AI

If you're a developer wondering whether AI is your best friend or worst enemy, this one’s for you.

👉 Like, subscribe, and leave a comment if you’ve got thoughts on AI and the future of engineering.

📩 Have an idea for a future topic? Reach out to us directly!

Related:

https://whatnext.dev

https://matthewsinclair.com

https://quantumfaxmachine.com

"I'm a Software Engineer ~ what next?" is a podcast for software engineers at a career crossroads.

Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and veteran software engineer Matt Sinclair, it offers insights into navigating career transitions from individual contributor roles to management and beyond.

Featuring discussions on personal growth and leadership, this podcast guides engineers seeking career direction and development. Join us to explore the paths and possibilities that lie ahead in the tech industry.Have you ever wondered when it's time to walk away from your role—and when it really isn't? In this episode, James and Matt dive into the messy reality of engineers switching jobs. They explore:- Burnout and bad management- The lure of salary bumps and startup glory- Strong views on functional programming- The myth of startup equity, and- Why time-compressed learning might be the biggest win of allIf you've ever wondered if now was the right time to stay or go, this episode might be for you.🎧 20 minutes. Zero fluff. Tune in now.Show Notes:- Let's talk about 4/3 time: https://medium.com/@matthewsinclair/0133-lets-talk-about-4-3-time-37c89de5a17b- TPS Reports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy3rjQGc6lA- Office Space (1999): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804Hosts:- Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsinclair/- James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-92170656/Related:- https://whatnext.dev- https://matthewsinclair.com- https://quantumfaxmachine.com