10x Engineers Are Overrated | Episode 10

“10x engineers? Probably jerks.”

Jason and Duncan aren’t mincing words in this episode of Tech Council.

They’re calling BS on the myth of the superhuman engineer and making a case for the everyday professionals who care deeply, collaborate well, and raise the bar for everyone else.

This one’s for team leads, CTOs, and senior devs who want to build organizations where great work doesn’t depend on unicorns.

Hit play and rediscover the power of normal engineers.

Top Takeaways:

• The concept of the 10X engineer is often exaggerated and can be counterproductive
• Systems and teams are more important than individual talent
• Decentralizing responsibility can lead to a healthier team dynamic
• Caring about the right things can help shape a better engineering culture
• Designing an ecosystem for talent is crucial for organizational success
• AI tools are changing the expectations of engineering roles
• Specialization will still exist, but versatility will be increasingly important
• Creating an attractive work environment can help draw in top talent
• Great engineers are made through mentorship and support

Mentioned in the Episode:

In Praise of “Normal” Engineers by Charity Majors - https://charity.wtf/2025/06/19/in-praise-of-normal-engineers/ 

Charity Majors - https://charity.wtf/about/ 

Charity Majors on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charity-majors

Connect with us:

Duncan Mapes

Jason Ehmke

DevGrid.io

DevGrid on LinkedIn

DevGrid on X