Welcome!

There’s a lot of advice out there for software engineers in the early or later stages of their career, but there’s a messy middle that gets talked about so much less. It hits right around Senior Software Engineer when you start asking “what’s next?” and realize that every path forward requires rebuilding the professional identity you’ve worked so hard to create. We find ourselves at a unique career crossroads with too many options yet no clear guidance on how to choose - and figuring it out alone can be downright painful. I would know. It took me 5 years bouncing across multiple companies, moving to Product Manager, Staff Software Engineer, and eventually Lead Engineer before I finally felt like I was starting to figure it out!

I’m Deven. I’m based in Atlanta, GA and have 10+ years experience in the software industry at both a large enterprise, and a nonprofit tech startup. I’m passionate about helping mid-career software engineers grow and navigate the next steps in their career, because I’ve been there. I learned through a lot of trial and error, but also with the help of some good friends and mentors who showed me options I never would have considered otherwise. I now write to pass on those learnings (both what worked… and what didn’t) so you too don’t have to struggle through this season alone. I write about growing as a Senior+ engineer, exploring and finding the career path that’s right for you, and navigating the politics of leading your own career—even when your boss isn’t on board.

If you are a Senior+ Software Engineer and any of this sounds familiar, this site is built with you in mind. My journey is not your journey, and I don’t expect you to end up where I did, but I’ve learned valuable lessons (usually the hard way) and I want to help you navigate this transition with more clarity and confidence than I did. I can’t promise to make this easy, but I can promise that you won’t have to do it alone. If I’ve not yet written about the struggles you are facing, please email me at [email protected] and tell me a bit about what you’re struggling with. It may take me a few days, but I promise I’ll respond with the best advice I have!