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Soft Skills Engineering

Jamison Dance and Dave Smith
Software Development
Software Engineering
Team Dynamics
Career Development
Work-Life Balance
Remote Work
Engineering Management
Job Market
Artificial Intelligence
Workplace Culture
Workplace Dynamics
Productivity
Salary Negotiation
Project Management
Career Transition
Layoffs
Scrum
Startups
Big Tech
Technical Skills

It takes more than great code to be a great engineer. Soft Skills Engineering is a weekly advice podcast for software developers about the non-technical stuff that goes into being a great software developer.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes527Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyBusiness

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Artwork for Soft Skills Engineering

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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Hi Dave & Jamison! I’ve been listening for almost a year now and have worked through nearly your entire back catalog in reverse. The podcast has genuinely helped me become a better eng... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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Hey Dave and Jamison, First, I love your show and it has now been part of my Monday evening routine for many years to listen to your podcast while cooking dinner.

I recently joined a... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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I work for a small software company on a team of about 7 or 8 engineers. I like working here. I like the people, the autonomy, the pay, my boss, and the stack among other things. I try... more

This is a rerun of episode 331.

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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Listener ninjamonkey says,

I am a new grad who is half a year into the role now at a very large company. Recently, a senior engineer on my team aske... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Dr. Strangecode
Senior developer at a mega corp (guest on the episode's Q&A segment)
Mega corporate employer
Episode: Episode 502: Management keeps leaving and I hate using AI to code

Hosts

Jamison Dance
Co-host focused on engineering culture, career guidance, and practical soft-skill strategies.
Dave Smith
Co-host who adds practical engineering workflow insights and leadership perspectives.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Ethics is a soft skill too

    Multiple discussions of LLMs but no mention of the catostrophic social and ecological impacts of their widespread use.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ghostbrite
    United States6 months ago
  • Wow

    I’ve seen a lot of people complaining about sound but the sound is perfect. The content is amazing given I’m a kid and this explains my dream job so well. Keep it up please.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Edawgg44
    United States10 months ago
  • The missing puzzle piece for a worrier entering (or growing in) the career field

    For someone who likes to be prepared and wants to be prepared to make the BEST decisions, this podcast is the (formerly) missing puzzle piece. As important as technical know-how is social know-how and this podcast covers that topic fantastically.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DimensionlessDave
    United States2 years ago
  • Worthwhile topics but excessive time-wasting

    E.g. in the episode titled “Dark patterns…”, it took more than 5m:30s to actually address the question

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Noffica
    Canada2 years ago
  • Good, clean, and fun.

    Jamison and Dave are both the right mix of funny and serious.

    Great soft skill advice and how to common sense.

    Glad I finally get to listen to them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tim from Victoria
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive reception of actionable career advice and balance of humor with real-world guidance.
Some listeners cite audio quality issues but continue to value the content and its usefulness for career planning and workplace dynamics.
Strong praise for engaging hosts who discuss topics beyond pure tech, with helpful insights for managers and individual contributors alike.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#208
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#244
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#195
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#198
Italy/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#23
Poland/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#41
Norway/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 526: Why can't I get promoted so quickly after my last promotion and I got hired as a software engineer but ended up doing ops
Q: What should I do if I want to position myself for an internal transfer or external move after joining a company and finding the role more operations-focused than software engineering?
They advise leveraging internal networks, volunteering for impactful projects, and seeking teams that build end-user-facing products. Scheduling regular one-on-ones to understand team direction, identifying opportunities to build tools or platforms that solve real problems, and pursuing a transfer within the company or a role that better matches interests are recommended strategies.
Episode 526: Why can't I get promoted so quickly after my last promotion and I got hired as a software engineer but ended up doing ops
Q: How should I navigate the next year after being told my work was promotion worthy but being told to target next year's cycle instead?
The hosts suggest framing one-on-one conversations around what your manager needs to help you get promoted, understanding normal timelines, and building a concrete plan that makes it easy for your manager to promote you. They emphasize aligning with company policy, showing consistent long-term performance, and exploring options like a mid-year check-in only after clarifying expectations and potential wins for your manager.
Episode 525: How do I save my company of 500 people and my new company is insane with AI
Q: Another listener asks for a brief survival guide to thriving in a Brave New AI World where your team is AI-first and there is a lot of hype and potential tech debt. Any gotchas to avoid?
The guidance emphasizes grounding AI work in solid engineering fundamentals, avoiding overhyped shortcuts, and recognizing that AI can both amplify productivity and lead to systemic debt if architectural choices aren't managed with rigor; focus on context, verification, and choosing domains where domain expertise complements AI capabilities rather than relying on AI to replace it entirely.
Episode 525: How do I save my company of 500 people and my new company is insane with AI
Q: Hey Dave and Jamison, I recently joined a mid-sized software company as a senior data engineer and then the company pivoted to be AI-first, with layoffs and a push to come up with new product ideas. Should I be patient and wait for growth, or start applying elsewhere?
The hosts suggest considering the stability of the company and personal fit; if the company's direction is unclear and there's a persistent push to generate ideas without clear product strategy, it's reasonable to start looking elsewhere while staying engaged in a role that plays to your strengths as a data engineer rather than becoming a general idea guy.
Episode 522: I stayed too long at my first job and should I get a masters degree
Q: If someone does pursue a master's, what value does it realistically add to their career in software, compared to entering with no degree or with a CS degree?
They acknowledge that a master's can be a personal passion project or provide domain-specific depth, but generally it does not guarantee career advancement or higher pay in software engineering; the decision should weigh personal interest, opportunity cost, and the presence of practical work experience or projects that demonstrate ability.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Soft Skills Engineering

What is Soft Skills Engineering about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on the human side of software development, pairing practical career guidance with relatable workplace anecdotes. Episodes frequently explore topics like AI's impact on engineering culture, team dynamics, leadership, negotiating for growth, and maintaining learning and morale in fast-changing environments. Listeners often highlight how the hosts balance humor with concrete advice, making complex topics approachable for engineers at various career stages and company sizes. A standout is the consistent emphasis on soft skills—communication, collaboration, and career strategy—as essential complements to technical ability. The format tends to mix real-world questions, personal stories, and pragmatic frameworks, which can help l... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Soft Skills Engineering?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Soft Skills Engineering:

1. Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats
2. Software Engineering Daily
3. Software Engineering Radio - the podcast for professional software developers
4. The Stack Overflow Podcast
5. CoRecursive: Coding Stories

How many episodes of Soft Skills Engineering are there?

Soft Skills Engineering launched 10 years ago and published 527 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Soft Skills Engineering?

Recent guests on Soft Skills Engineering include:

1. Dr. Strangecode

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