10x Engineer : Myth or Reality?

In the world of technology and software development, the term “10x Engineer” has become very popular due to many discussions about whether this is an achievable reality or just a myth. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at this topic.

What is a 10x Engineer?

This concept refers to an engineer, typically a software engineer, who has the ability to be ten times more productive than their team members.

This individual is distinguished by exceptional talent and outstanding capability, demonstrating skills to solve problems ingeniously and achieving outstanding results in shorter periods of time than their coworkers. Their impact is notable due to their ability to collaborate effectively within teams, creative thinking and positive attitude. Also known as “rockstar developers”, these professionals are recognized by their exceptional efficiency.

We cannot deny the fact of some developers are more efficient than others. However, this efficiency is achieved not by working more hours, but by working smarter and more effectively.

What do we know about 10x Engineer?

There are numerous stereotypes about 10x Engineers. Recently, Shekhar Kirani, an investor at Accel India, opened a thread on X, formerly known as Twitter, generating a great reaction and once again sparking controversy with comments such as:

https://twitter.com/skirani

1. “10x engineers hate meetings. They think it is a waste of time and obvious things are being discussed.”
2. “Timings in the office for 10x engineers is highly irregular. They tend to work when very few folks are around. If there is a crowd or all-hands meeting, they are not visible. Most of them are late-night coders and come late to the office.”
3. “10x engineers laptop screen background color is typically black (they always change defaults). Their keyboard keys such as i, f, x are usually worn out than of a, s, and e (email senders)”
4. “10x engineers know every line of the code that has gone into production. If a QA or support folks alert an issue, they know precisely where the fault (or bug) is and can fix the same in hours vs days”
5. “Most of the 10x engineers are full-stack engineers.”
6. “10x engineers can convert “thought” into “code” in their mind and write it in an iterative fashion. Given a product feature, they can write that entire feature in one or two sittings of 4 to 6 hours with a caffeinated drink without distraction.”
7. “10x engineers rarely look at help documentation of classes or methods. They know it in memory and can recall from memory. They write code at the same ease as writing English. No breaks, no pauce, just type.”
8. “10x engineers are always learning new frameworks, languages ahead of everyone in the company. They are not afraid of anything new. If there is something new (e.g. blockchain) they gobble up, setup, experiment before anyone is getting started.”
9. “10x engineers are poor mentors as they can’t teach others on what to do OR parcel the work. They always think “It takes too long to teach or discuss with others, I would rather do it myself.” They are also poor interviewers.”
10. “10x engineers don’t hack things. They write quality code and know exactly how the code has to evolve, and have a mental model of overall code structure. They write at most one design document, and the rest is in the code.”
11. “10x engineers rarely job hunt or move out of the company. They move out because you make their life miserable with the process, meetings, training, and other non-value-added activities. If you come across them, hold on to them. Celebrate them.”

However, all these points mentioned by Shekhar Kirani are just a set of popular stereotypes that, in my opinion, do not truly define a 10x engineer. In my opinion, the real key is your ability to adapt and optimize their work environment.

Is the 10x engineer made or born?

For an engineer to perform at a tenfold level over an extended period of time requires an inherent skill set as well as the right environment. It is essential to recognise that each individual faces unique circumstances and conditions:

• Learning speed: This factor influences the ability to acquire new skills and knowledge effectively.
• Innate abilities: Natural capabilities can significantly impact work performance.
• Availability outside of working hours: The amount of time an individual dedicates to study and improve their skills outside of work hours. Not everyone has this extra time and has the same responsibilities or availability.
• Ambition: A different level of ambition and the desire for professional growth.
• Soft Skills: These skills, such as leadership, ability to organize or influence, can impact an engineer’s ability to effectively collaborate with others and lead projects.
• Access to resources: The availability of resources, mentors and opportunities can affect their ability to develop and grow in their career.

Can anyone be a 10x engineer?

In my opinion, any engineer can become a 10x engineer if they have the right tools and context. What are the steps to make a difference?

1. Efficiency: Efficiency involves focusing on performing tasks optimally and maximizing results with available resources.
2. Being organized: Being organised and planned helps you avoid wasted time and mistakes. In addition, a clear understanding of tasks and objectives promotes greater concentration and focus, improving productivity and quality of work.
3. Speaking up: Identifying and communicating blockers in time without fear of asking questions.
4. Avoiding distractions: Maintain a distraction-free work environment by avoiding social media and any distracting activities.
5. Good tools: Using the best available tools and shortcuts. Every second counts and will bring us closer to achieving greater impact.
6. Attitude and readiness to learn: having a mindset of continuous growth and disposition to learn.
7. Surrounding yourself with talent: working with talented people and learning from them.
8. Humbleness: being humble and recognizing that there is always something new to learn.

The 10x engineer is not a myth but it is also not an impossible goal. It is the result of a combination of skills dedication and a suitable environment. In my opinion, while not everyone can be a 10x engineer, any of us can aspire to improve and adopt the practices that characterize them. In the end, the 10x engineer is an example of how excellence and efficiency can transform not only their own work but also that of an entire team.