Hey, I’m Jamie Wen. I am a Software Engineer and Tech Lead in Melbourne Australia. I’ve been in tech for a while, doing different roles, but I’m a hardcore engineer at heart. I am a true believer in lifelong learning. This website serves as a central hub where I aggregate and organize my information.

I love this quote from Will Larson’s “Staff Engineer: Leadership Beyond the Management Track”

To become a senior technical leader, you must build a deep perspective on technology and architecture.

To operate as such a leader, you must then develop an equally deep pragmatism and agnosticism to technical religion to remain skeptical of yourself.

This can feel like a paradox, but it’s the line you’ll need to walk every day.

Bios

Currently

Senior Technical Lead at REA Group, Melbourne Australia

In the past

Principal Developer, Tech & Delivery Lead at SEEK, Melbourne Australia

Senior Developer at IRESS, Melbourne Australia

Senior Software Engineers at Autodesk, Singapore

Some engineering roles in different industries, Beijing China

Writing

📚 I share actionable tips in the Tech Lead Handbook

🚧 I am currenly writing a People Handbook

🌱 I occasionally post tech articles on Medium

More

I get stuff done

Excellent execution is equally important to great strategy. Focus on the most impactful tasks using the 80/20 rule to maximise productivity.

I value simplicity

As an engineer, a key skill is breaking complex concepts into a series of manageable tasks by abstracting common patterns. In a world filled with information and opinions, my value lies in recognising and leveraging these patterns.

I collaborate

I enjoy working with great people. There’s always something to learn from each other. Together, we can achieve more, and with some luck, 1+1 can be much more than 2.

I listen

All interesting problems operate across a number of context layers. My process is to listen, digest, clarify, abstract, then share back. Effective contribution starts with active listening.

I prefer plain language over jargon

Jargon can be a barrier for newcomers. I prefer using straightforward terms.

I own my calendar

I strictly manage my calendar to block time for deep thinking and avoid ad-hoc tasks.

I try to unlearn

Unlearning isn’t about forgetting, but letting go. In tech, change is constant. We all need to unlearn to relearn.

I am introverted

I am social at work but prefer to recharge alone. I do not spend all day or night socialising.

The town where I was raised