Being the Third Engineer

I was the third engineer hired by my company, not counting our technical co-founder. I like that position, and it seems to play to my strengths.

Who is the third engineer? Looking at the startup hiring process, I've noticed a pattern. The first engineer is usually a trusted senior that the founders know. The second engineer is the same, or a referral from the first engineer.

After that, we're running out of known quantities. That third engineer may be the first conventional outside hire. Being that person presents unique challenges.

First, because you're wandering into a culture, you're going to see things a little differently. You didn't work at the old job, so solutions that are a given might surprise you. And you might see their seams before anyone else.

I ask a lot of questions. Sometimes my ideas are unconventional. Sometimes they're a hit. And sometimes, I learn about problems I didn't even know existed, foot guns that have gone off before.

Leave a Comment