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EPISODE · Oct 22, 2025 · 38 MIN

What Separates Good Engineers from Great Ones

from Beyond Coding · host Patrick Akil

What's the real difference between a good software engineer and a truly great one? It’s more than just coding skill. It's a specific mindset, a disciplined approach to technology, and a deep understanding of core principles. This is the roadmap to leveling up your career.In this conversation with Sander Mak, Director of Technology at Picnic, we discuss the methods they use to train world-class engineers. You will learn:The "under the hood" knowledge that truly matters.Why great engineers often choose "boring," proven technology.The critical transition from being a coder to a product-focused engineer.The most common pitfall that holds good developers back.If you're a software developer looking to move beyond "good enough" and achieve greatness in your craft, this is the episode for you.Connect with Sander: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandermakTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:00:30 - Building Picnic's Tech Academy for New Engineers00:04:37 - The Key Mindset of a Successful Junior Engineer00:08:01 - A Look Inside the Engineering Training Curriculum00:12:19 - The Common Pitfall of Copying Without Understanding00:14:10 - How Deep "Under the Hood" Knowledge Should Go00:17:41 - Why Great Engineers Value "Boring" Technology00:21:44 - Improving Developer Experience and Team Productivity00:30:02 - The Transition from Coder to Product Engineer00:34:18 - Key Advice for Self-Taught Developers00:35:41 - Using AI for Learning vs. for Code Generation#SoftwareEngineering #DeveloperCareer #Coding

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Oct 22, 2025

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