🇬🇧 How is AI redefining the job of engineers?

In this episode, Robin Pokorny, Senior Staff Engineer at Ataccama, and Phil Bennett, former Director of Engineering at Kilo Health and engineering leadership consultant at Punk Leadership, join us to explore how AI is redefining the role of software engineers—and what that means for the future of the profession. Drawing on their hands-on experience with AI coding agents and engineering leadership, they share practical perspectives on how workflows, expectations, and skill profiles are changing across the industry. We explore how everyday engineering work is evolving—from AI-generated code and faster iteration cycles to new approaches in testing, documentation, and prototyping. The conversation covers emerging workflows such as voice prompting, CLI-based tools, and agent-driven development, while also addressing challenges around quality, risk, and the illusion of reliability in AI-generated systems. Along the way, we discuss where vibe coding fits in, what separates experimentation from production software, and why experience, judgment, and “taste” still matter. Beyond tools and workflows, we look at what software engineers need to succeed in the coming years: product thinking, strategic decision-making, risk awareness, and the ability to ask the right questions. We also discuss implications for education, hiring, and team leadership—from shifting performance metrics to the growing importance of business understanding and adaptability. What does meaningful differentiation look like when everyone has access to the same technology—and how should teams prepare for what comes next? Guests:Robin Pokorny, Senior Staff Engineer at Ataccama and organizer of React Berlin Meetup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinpokorny/Phil Bennett, Engineering Leadership Consultant at Punk Leadership and former Director of Engineering at Kilo Health: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-bennett/Host:Frederik Görtelmeyer, CEO of Zapdeck, an AI software for creating professional presentations: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goertelmeyer/