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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
Artificial Intelligence
Job Market
Engineering Management
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes530Founded11 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 Jamison and Dave, jesters of my daily commute. I’m a *mechanical* engineer at a megacorp, and since people are people, I find most of your advice transfers pretty well.

I’m the te... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

*

A listener named “Will angel answer my question?” asks,

Hi, I recently joined a new company about 1.5 months ago. It is the technology arm of a family-owned business group that has e... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

*

Hello Dave and Jamison!

I’m a longtime listener going back to the early days of the podcast, and I’ve listened to every episode since. When I started listening, I was beginning my ca... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

*

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

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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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
  • Soft Skills Engineering is my number one most listened to comedy podcast.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Tomfried
    a month ago
  • 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 Statesa year 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

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
#242
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#199
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#175
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#245
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#14
Mexico/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#28
India/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 529: Zoom calls on my open floor plan and laconic staff engineer
Q: What is a good approach to getting a stubborn engineer to explain why two variables are named differently and whether changing names would lose meaning?
Frame the question as a collaborative problem-solving exercise: propose named changes, explain what you would change and why, and ask whether the changes would impact meaning in the larger system. This invites the senior engineer to teach rather than simply answer, increasing the likelihood of a productive mentoring moment.
Episode 529: Zoom calls on my open floor plan and laconic staff engineer
Q: Hi Jamison and Dave, what should I do when a staff engineer answers with very short, laconic responses that don't seem to mentor juniors?
Try to model constructive communication by showing your effort, propose specific changes, and ask targeted questions about the underlying system. If possible, reach out to someone else who might be more willing to engage and explain why the issue matters in terms of a concrete business or project outcome. Demonstrating effort and asking for a specific, testable change can prompt a more helpful response and improve the mentorship dynamic.
Episode 528: Sleepy family software business and leaving after an acquisition
Q: After eight years at a startup that gets acquired by a megacorp, how should one approach the transition to minimize disruption and protect their career trajectory?
They emphasize staying long enough to observe cultural integration, learning from the acquiring company's processes, and balancing independence with adoption of new tools. Possible strategies include keeping an eye on culture fit, leveraging the larger platform for learning, and making a deliberate, time-bound plan to assess fit before deciding to stay or move on.
Episode 528: Sleepy family software business and leaving after an acquisition
Q: Hi, I recently joined a new company about 1.5 months ago and then wonders about onboarding and workload when the parent company acquires you. What should I be watching for, and how can I position myself to contribute meaningfully?
The hosts suggest focusing on ways to add value quickly, like identifying pain points in the engineering workflow, offering to help with AI-assisted tooling, and actively seeking tasks or pairing opportunities. If there is little work, they advise communicating readiness to contribute rather than dwelling on the lack of work, and framing requests to take on more meaningful responsibilities.
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.

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. The Pragmatic Engineer
2. The Stack Overflow Podcast
3. Software Engineering Daily
4. Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats
5. Software Engineering Radio - the podcast for professional software developers

How many episodes of Soft Skills Engineering are there?

Soft Skills Engineering launched 11 years ago and published 530 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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