S2 - Episode #3: Daniel Paulus - Director of Engineering - Checkly
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About Daniel:
Daniel Paulus is the Director of Engineering at Checkly. His professional career began with 13 years as an Officer in the German Air Force where he studied computer science at a military university. Throughout his time in the forces, Dan held various roles including Team Lead, Engineering Manager, Project Manager, and IT Manager, and valued the sense of purpose the military offered. In 2017, he transitioned from the military to the tech start-up world in Berlin, starting as a Lead Developer at Sauce Labs, and later joining Contentful as an Engineering Manager before finally moving to his current role at Checkly.
Synopsis:
In this episode of The Technology Leadership Podcast, Daniel discusses hiring in technology companies. He describes Checkly's global hiring process and what it has taught him. He also talks about building cross-functional Engineering teams and the importance of mentoring and coaching Junior Engineers, which in turn contributes towards positive energy in the team. In Daniel's view, having a diverse team of engineers leads to greater challenge on ideas and approach, innovation, and broader knowledge.
Key Takeaways:
Learn why working with local recruiters is effective if you’re looking to hire globally.
Understand why live coding challenges are more effective than take-home tests for hiring purposes.
Hear about the importance of regular engagement and speed in the hiring process.
Get Daniel’s view on what he thinks is the biggest challenge in technology in 2023: the economic situation.
Find out why mentoring and coaching Junior Engineers is important for growth and retention.
Hear Daniel’s views on hiring people from bootcamps to help you find good candidates who are not only talented but confident.
Learn about Daniel’s experience of university graduates who he’s found often have a strong computer science background but may lack professional experience.
Understand why a diverse team with a mix of Junior and Senior Engineers is important for innovation and knowledge.
Learn how mentoring and coaching Junior Engineers can bring positive energy to the team.
Episode Outline:
[0:09] Meet Daniel
[2:30] How Daniel get into tech
[02:57] What Checkly does
[6:53] Hiring Juniors vs. Senior Engineers
[07:38] Why companies hire Junior Engineers
[12:33] The importance of diversity in an Engineering team
[14:33] Daniel’s experience learning to code as a kid and his decision to pursue a career in tech
[18:06] Discussion of the importance of interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence for professional growth
[19:38] Helping Juniors become future Engineering leaders
[22:54] Performance framework for Engineers.
[25:35] Tips on how to hire Junior and Senior engineers
[27:54] Lessons from hiring Junior and Senior Engineers at Checkly
[30:30] Daniel’s thoughts on technical recruitment
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