The Dev Workshop 1

From Engineer to Tech Lead: What Changes and What Doesn’t

ByLeesa Wyzard Posted on

Let’s be honest for a minute: stepping up from engineer to tech lead is a big shift—your focus moves from writing the most code to helping your team ship good software reliably. That’s the heart of the job now.

Going from engineer to tech lead is a big step up.
The transition can feel strange at first.

One day, you’re heads-down in code.
Suddenly, people ask you questions throughout the day.

So let’s talk about what actually changes — and what really doesn’t — like we’re sitting at a coffee shop, and you’re asking, “Okay… what am I supposed to do now?”

The One Big Shift (This Is the Heart of It)

Here’s the short version:

Your job isn’t to write the most code anymore.

Your job is to help the team ship good software without things blowing up.

That’s it. Everything stems from that idea.

What Changes

You Stop Being the “Go-To Fixer” (Most of the Time)

As an engineer, it’s natural to think:

“I’ll just knock this out real quick.”

As a tech lead, if you do that all the time, two things happen:

  • You get slammed
  • The team never learns.

Now your job is more about guiding than doing:

  • You help people think through problems.
  • You point out risks early.
  • You jump in when something’s truly stuck.

You still code — just with purpose.

Delegation Feels Awkward at First

Letting go is challenging, especially when you could do it faster.

But delegation isn’t dumping work. It’s saying:

  • “Here’s the outcome we need.”
  • “Here’s what to watch out for.”
  • “I’m here if you get stuck.”

Sometimes people struggle, but that’s part of learning.

You Own More Than Your Own Work Now

This is a big mental shift.

When something breaks, you don’t get to say:

“That wasn’t my PR.”

As a tech lead, you own the technical direction.
That doesn’t mean blame. It means stepping up and calmly helping fix things.

Your team notices this more than you think.

Talking Becomes Half the Job

Surprise: the job is less about clever code and more about clear thinking.

You’ll spend more time:

  • Explaining why, not just what
  • Laying out tradeoffs
  • Making sure everyone’s on the same page

If people are confused, slow down and clarify—don’t just push harder.

What Stays the Same

You’re Still an Engineer (Promise)

Good tech leads don’t vanish into meetings forever.

You should still:

  • Read code
  • Understand the system deeply.
  • Get your hands dirty when it matters.

The difference is why you’re doing it — usually to unblock or set direction.

You Don’t Stop Being Curious

If anything, curiosity matters more now.

You’ll ask things like:

  • “Is this really the simplest option?”
  • “What’s this going to look like six months from now?”
  • “Are we solving the right problem?”

That engineer brain stays—just with a broader focus now.

Trust Is Still Earned

Being a tech lead doesn’t automatically earn you people’s trust.

Trust comes from:

  • Listening
  • Being honest when you mess up
  • Having your team’s back

Same as always.

A Few Common Traps (We’ve All Seen These)

  • Doing too much yourself
  • Hovering instead of mentoring
  • Avoiding uncomfortable conversations
  • Letting quality slide “just this once.”

Most tech lead pain comes from trying to be a hero instead of a guide.

The Real Truth

Being a tech lead isn’t about being the smartest person in the room.

It’s about making the room smarter over time.

If you can do that, you’re not just doing the job right—you’re helping your team thrive, grow, and succeed. That’s what truly sets great tech leads apart.