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Artwork for Soft Skills Engineering

Soft Skills Engineering

Jamison Dance and Dave Smith
Software Engineering
Software Development
Productivity
Job Market
Remote Work
Soft Skills
Engineering Management
Work-Life Balance
Hiring Practices
Bureaucracy
Quality Assurance
Company Culture
Drowsiness
Scrum
Team Dynamics
Technical Skills
Salary Negotiation
Notion
Workplace Culture
Caffeine Consumption

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes504Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Soft Skills Engineering

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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I’m a software developer with about 15 years in the industry, and I am soon starting as the CTO of a robotics company with about 50 employees.

Though I have years of experience and a... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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Hi, thank you for the podcast, I am long time listener, first time asker. Something weird is going on at my company. A colleague of my always wanted to get promoted to management, he g... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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A listener named Derek asks,

I am the CTO and cofounder of a startup. Now that vibecoding is a thing, our CEO has kind of gone rogue, and and he’s vibecoding a bunch of random stuff,... more

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions:

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I have been with my current organization for 5+ years. I like the company and have generally had a good experience working here. However, the last several years I have not really gotte... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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

Dave Smith
Host and co-host focusing on soft skills for software engineering, offering insights on management, career growth, and effective communication.
Jamison Dance
Co-host specializing in soft skills for engineers, providing humorous yet insightful advice on personal and professional growth.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • 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 States5 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 Statesa year 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
  • Good content, atrocious audio

    I’m a few episodes in and I love the content. I physically cannot listen to these horrible audio levels anymore. It ranges wildly from speaking voices that are barely audible, to laughter or utterance that nearly blows out my speakers. I really hope they get this leveled out in future episodes because I can’t listen to this much more.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Kkellylynne
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critiques mention audio quality issues, but overall feedback remains positively focused on the content's relevance and entertainment value.
Listeners appreciate the blend of humor and serious advice, which balances well with the challenges faced in the tech industry.
Many find the content valuable for their career development and personal growth in software engineering roles.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#207
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#19
Saudi Arabia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#51
India/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#66
Belgium/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#78
Colombia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#94
New Zealand/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 502: Management keeps leaving and I hate using AI to code
Q: From a future-looking perspective, will AI change the core way software engineers work in the next year or two, or is the change more incremental?
The guests predict a broad, enduring change rather than a short-term bubble: AI will become more integrated into professional software development, with engineers focusing on high-level design, validation, and system orchestration rather than raw code production. Adoption will accelerate, but there will still be a need for human insight, especially in crafting reliable, well-documented systems.
Episode 502: Management keeps leaving and I hate using AI to code
Q: What practical steps should teams take to integrate AI into development without sacrificing control or creating risky outputs?
Teams should establish strong feedback loops, codify clear guidelines for AI use, invest in governance around model outputs, and create durable artifacts (like ADRs and design docs) that can be referenced over time. Hiring someone to oversee AI integration and ensuring cross-functional collaboration can help keep the work trustworthy and aligned with product goals.
Episode 502: Management keeps leaving and I hate using AI to code
Q: The problem is every time I try to use AI, I get really frustrated. How do I overcome this aversion and learn to separate hype from reality while figuring out how to use AI effectively in software development?
The hosts suggest recognizing that AI is a tool that changes the workflow but not the core goal of delivering reliable software. Start by learning to craft precise prompts, verify outputs with human judgment, and build processes that keep humans in the loop. Embrace documentation and design artifacts that guide AI use, and gradually scale AI adoption while maintaining a human-centric approach to quality and reliability.
Episode 500: Am I the only one not getting raises and firing my whole team
Q: What should I do about an underperforming team as a manager?
Focus on gradual improvements; aim to enhance performance incrementally instead of attempting to fire the entire team at once.
Episode 500: Am I the only one not getting raises and firing my whole team
Q: How can I go about getting my manager to help me level up to make myself a more attractive candidate for a future job without necessarily tipping my hand that I'm job searching?
You should express interest in leveling up for future opportunities internally, which aligns with becoming a better employee at your current company, without revealing your intention to leave.

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?

The content focuses on the often overlooked non-technical aspects vital to success in software development, addressing soft skills such as communication, leadership, and career growth. Episodes typically blend humor with relatable anecdotes from the hosts' experiences, while tackling listener queries about common challenges faced by software engineers across various stages of their careers. Unique elements include candid discussions on topics like effective team dynamics, performance reviews, and career transitions, making it a resourceful listen for both new and seasoned professionals in the tech industry.

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How many listeners does Soft Skills Engineering get?

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How many subscribers and views does Soft Skills Engineering have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Soft Skills Engineering?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Soft Skills Engineering:

1. Decoder with Nilay Patel
2. Dwarkesh Podcast
3. Odd Lots
4. Practical AI
5. The a16z Show

How many episodes of Soft Skills Engineering are there?

Soft Skills Engineering launched 10 years ago and published 504 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Soft Skills Engineering?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Soft Skills Engineering?

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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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