What Separates Good Engineers from Great Ones
Beyond Coding22 Loka 2025

What Separates Good Engineers from Great Ones

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/sandermak


Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:30 - Building Picnic's Tech Academy for New Engineers

00:04:37 - The Key Mindset of a Successful Junior Engineer

00:08:01 - A Look Inside the Engineering Training Curriculum

00:12:19 - The Common Pitfall of Copying Without Understanding

00:14:10 - How Deep "Under the Hood" Knowledge Should Go

00:17:41 - Why Great Engineers Value "Boring" Technology

00:21:44 - Improving Developer Experience and Team Productivity

00:30:02 - The Transition from Coder to Product Engineer

00:34:18 - Key Advice for Self-Taught Developers

00:35:41 - Using AI for Learning vs. for Code Generation


#SoftwareEngineering #DeveloperCareer #Coding

Jaksot(237)

Why We're Excited About React Compiler (React Compiler Explained) with Lydia Hallie

Why We're Excited About React Compiler (React Compiler Explained) with Lydia Hallie

This was a special episode, recorded at React Summit in Amsterdam! Curious to hear your feedback! The next edition of the biggest React conference will be in New York, on November 18 & 21, and Early B...

25 Kesä 202519min

AI in Software Engineering: Productivity, Pitfalls, and Practical Advice with Stacy Cashmore

AI in Software Engineering: Productivity, Pitfalls, and Practical Advice with Stacy Cashmore

Is AI a productivity tool or a dangerous shortcut for developers?In this episode, Stacy Cashmore, Product Lead at OmniPlan, joins us to discuss the practical realities of integrating AI into software ...

18 Kesä 202555min

The Identity Crisis of Software Engineers in the Age of AI with Borislav Nikolov & Rares Mirica

The Identity Crisis of Software Engineers in the Age of AI with Borislav Nikolov & Rares Mirica

AI is reshaping software engineering—but are developers getting better or worse?In this episode, Borislav Nikolov and Rares Mirica join me to discuss the identity crisis facing software engineers due ...

11 Kesä 20251h 12min

Can AI Really Replace Human Customer Support?

Can AI Really Replace Human Customer Support?

In this episode, Dennis de Reus, co-founder of Stellar and former Head of AI at ABN Amro, reveals how AI-driven voice technology is redefining customer interactions. We discuss practical experiences, ...

4 Kesä 202540min

Leadership, Burnout & Building Global Teams with Ray Bogman

Leadership, Burnout & Building Global Teams with Ray Bogman

Great leaders don’t manage—they inspire, coach, and build trust.In this episode, Ray Bogman (Head of Innovation at Alumio) shares his experience leading a global team of 75 people and discusses why tr...

14 Touko 202553min

What is Vibe Coding? The New Way Developers Build Software with Zowie Langdon

What is Vibe Coding? The New Way Developers Build Software with Zowie Langdon

"Vibe coding"—it’s the buzzword you might not have heard yet, but it could change your entire workflow.In this episode, Zowie Langdon explains exactly what vibe coding is: a modern approach that pairs...

7 Touko 20251h 12min

Public Speaking, Networking & the Role of Architects with Bert-Jan Schrijver

Public Speaking, Networking & the Role of Architects with Bert-Jan Schrijver

Ever considered speaking at a tech conference but felt unsure or overwhelmed?In this episode, Bert-Jan Schrijver, CTO at OpenValue, shares invaluable insights on why public speaking is one of the most...

1 Touko 202552min

Rust, Game Development & Career Growth with Stephan Dilly

Rust, Game Development & Career Growth with Stephan Dilly

Can learning Rust boost your software engineering career? Absolutely.In this episode, Stephan Dilly, Rust expert and seasoned game developer, discusses why Rust has quickly become a critical skill in ...

23 Huhti 202545min