Are There Tech Leads in Software Engineering Companies Who Never Code?

Yes, there are tech leads in software engineering companies who may not code regularly. While tech leads often possess a strong technical background and a deep understanding of the codebase, their role typically evolves more towards leadership, project management, and strategic planning as they advance in their careers. Here are some key points to consider:

Leadership Focus

Tech leads often focus on guiding the team, making architectural decisions, and ensuring project alignment with business goals. This may require less hands-on coding, allowing them to devote more attention to higher-level strategic decisions and leadership tasks.

Team Management

They might spend more time mentoring team members, conducting code reviews, and facilitating communication between stakeholders, rather than writing code themselves. This focus on team development and communication is crucial for the overall success of the project.

High-Level Design

Some tech leads concentrate on high-level system design or integration tasks, which may not involve coding but require a deep understanding of the system architecture. This role is essential for ensuring the overall system’s stability and scalability.

Transition to Management

In some cases, tech leads may transition into more managerial roles like Engineering Manager or Director of Engineering, where coding is not a primary responsibility. These roles focus more on leadership and strategic planning.

Company Size and Structure

The separation of responsibilities between coding and management can vary significantly based on the company size and structure. In smaller companies or startups, tech leads might still code regularly due to the nature of the work. In larger organizations, the distinction between coding and management can be more pronounced.

While coding skills are valuable for a tech lead, especially for problem-solving and technical discussions, it is not uncommon for them to focus on broader strategic and leadership responsibilities over time.

Personal Experience: From Senior Software Engineer to Tech Lead

At one of my workplaces, I was promoted from a Senior Software Engineer to a Software Team Leader. I held this role for about 10 years and had very little time to write any code at all during those years. I was managing up to 4 teams at a time, with the largest team peaking at 13 software engineers divided between developers and testers.

Most of my time was spent on the following tasks:

Doing the people management role Scheduling work Tracking progress Reviewing code Attending meetings (I referred to it as shielding my team from meetings) Estimating effort for new projects

I might have written a couple of hundred lines of code myself in those 10 years. This experience highlights the shift from hands-on technical work to strategic and managerial roles that many tech leads undergo as they advance in their careers.

Conclusion

While coding is often an important aspect of a tech lead's job, it is not uncommon for them to spend more time on leadership and management responsibilities. The role of a tech lead evolves over time, and the emphasis on coding decreases as they transition into more senior positions.