At most technology companies, you’ll reach Senior Software Engineer, the career level for software engineers, in five to eight years. At that career level, you’ll no longer be required to work towards the next promotion, and being promoted beyond it is exceptional rather than expected. Should you stay there, move into engineering management, or continue down the path of technical excellence to become a Staff Engineer?
What are the skills you need to develop to reach Staff Engineer? Are technical abilities alone sufficient to reach and succeed in that role? How do most folks reach this role? What is your manager’s role in helping you along the way? Will you enjoy being a Staff Engineer or will you toil for years to achieve a role that doesn’t suit you? Staff Engineer: Leadership beyond the management track is a pragmatic look at attaining and operating in Staff engineering roles, building on the lived experience of folks who've walked before you.
Staff Engineer is brought to you by the author of An Elegant Puzzle, with over 30,000 copies sold. If you enjoyed or found it useful, you'll enjoy this book as well.
Foreword written by Tanya Reilly, Principal engineer at Squarespace.
These guides cover the Staff engineer archetypes, how to identify what to work on as a Staff Engineer in Work on what matters, how to partner with your management chain in Stay aligned with authority, and tools for charting your promotion path in Promotion packets. Read how folks at Dropbox, Etsy, Slack, Stripe, and more carved their path to Staff-plus engineer.
Hear more about Staff Engineer on episodes of the Software Engineering Daily and Career Chats podcasts.

"Becoming a Staff engineer is both a promotion and a job change; many immensely talented engineers pursue the first and arrive unprepared for the latter. Will Larson's Staff Engineer is a wide ranging and thought provoking overview of the many dimensions of the role.
As a software engineer at any level, this book will challenge you to become better and should be required reading if you're pursuing a Staff engineer role."

"It is not easy to find many resources on the staff engineer role which is still massively misunderstood due to wildly varying definitions and assumptions.
This book lays out some of the differing role definitions and then brings them to life with real case studies making it easy to map the archetypes to your own circumstances, passions and ambitions. This should be a go to resource for anyone thinking of pursuing the IC path or that has already moved into a senior IC role."

"In Staff Engineer, Will Larson does more than demystify the staff engineer role: he explains the whys and hows of long-term technical strategy, the power of sponsorship, and the responsibility that comes with having influence.
Throughout the book, he references inclusive studies, addresses realistic scenarios, and offers practical advice. Staff Engineer leaves me feeling more equipped for success as an engineering leader, but more than that, it leaves me feeling affirmed — it’s the first engineering leadership book I’ve read with over half its quotations from women."
Indiana is considered a "redeemable deed" state, meaning the process is a hybrid between a tax lien sale and a tax deed sale. When you purchase a property at an Indiana tax sale, you are buying a Tax Sale Certificate, not the property itself immediately.
Indiana’s tax sale system provides a legal mechanism for local governments to collect delinquent property taxes by auctioning tax liens or the properties themselves. For investors, these sales offer opportunities to acquire real estate below market value. However, the process is governed by strict statutory requirements under Indiana Code (IC) 6-1.1-24. This paper examines the legal framework, the two primary sale types (tax lien certificates and tax deeds), the due diligence required, and the post-sale redemption rights of property owners. Key risks include title defects, property condition issues, and the complexities of foreclosure. The paper concludes that while profitable, success in Indiana tax sales demands meticulous research and adherence to procedural rules. tax sale properties indiana
Indiana counties typically conduct tax sales once a year, often in the fall. When a property owner falls behind on property taxes for three or more installments, the county puts the property up for auction to recover the unpaid funds. Indiana is considered a "redeemable deed" state, meaning
In Indiana, tax sales are typically held at the county level. Here's a general overview of the process: For investors, these sales offer opportunities to acquire
Tax sale properties are homes or commercial buildings that have been seized by the government due to unpaid property taxes. When a property owner fails to pay their taxes, the county can sell the property at a tax sale to recoup the owed amount. These properties are often sold at a significantly lower price than their market value, making them an attractive option for investors and homebuyers.
There are two main types of tax sales in Indiana:
| Risk | Explanation | |------|-------------| | | Owner redeems on the last day, investor loses acquisition and only earns modest interest. | | Title defects | Clerical errors, undisclosed heirs, or improperly served notice can void the tax deed. | | Property condition | Environmental contamination, demolition orders, or hazardous materials (e.g., meth labs). | | Post‑sale litigation | Former owners frequently challenge tax deeds for defective notice. Indiana courts strictly construe notice requirements. | | Excess proceeds claims | If sold for more than owed, former owners or lienholders may sue the investor who collected the surplus. |
Learn how to navigate the technical leadership career while staying as an individual contributor. Understand the mechanics and consequences of moving from Senior Engineer to Staff Engineer. Get tools to determine the right next steps for your circumstances.