Writing
Notes on hiring and joining the best early-stage engineering teams.
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Signs of a great early-stage startup (and why to work at one)
What to look for before you join, the red flags to run from, and why the right early team beats a safe seat at scale.
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Startup vs. big tech: which should a top engineer choose?
Cash and stability, or ownership, speed, and upside. The honest tradeoffs, from people who only place engineers at startups, and how to actually decide.
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How to hire a founding engineer
A founding engineer isn’t a senior hire. They’re a co-owner of the product. What to screen for, where to find them, and why the usual interview loop fails.
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Founding engineer vs. early engineer: what actually differs
Same headcount, very different job. The line isn’t seniority or employee number. It’s ownership and ambiguity, and which one you need changes how you hire.
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The best engineers don’t apply
The strongest engineers are employed, not looking, and never touch a job board. They move through people they trust. How hiring actually works at the top.