How to Become a Staff Engineer: Strategies and Insider Tips

There comes a point in your career where writing more code isn't enough to keep growing. Oscar Mariani and Jonathan Muszkat break down the path to Staff Engineer: strategies, practical advice, and some insider tips.

Two software development experts
Jun 3, 20262 min read
Updated on Jun 29, 2026

Every developer reaches a moment where something uncomfortable becomes clear: writing more code isn't making you grow anymore. The next level, Staff Engineer, is a different game entirely. How do you get there? Oscar Mariani and Jonathan Muszkat break it down in this talk.

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Why "just coding more" stops being enough

The jump to Staff isn't about doing the same thing faster. It's about changing the type of impact you have: moving from closing your own tickets to helping the whole team perform better. Influence, technical decisions that scale, the judgment to choose which problems are worth solving. It sounds abstract, and that's exactly why this talk brings it down to earth with concrete examples.

Strategies and tips that actually make a difference

Oscar and Jonathan share what you won't usually find on blogs: how to gain visibility without overselling yourself, how to pick projects that genuinely help you grow, and how to communicate with decision-makers. Small moves that, sustained over time, put you on the radar for the role.

You don't grow alone

If the talk makes one thing clear, it's that nobody reaches Staff in isolation. You need feedback, mentors, and an environment that genuinely invests in your growth. At Howdy, we're clear on this: we support every developer in taking their next step, with experienced people alongside them.

Watch the full talk and Q&A

Hit play for all the strategies, tips, and the Q&A with Oscar and Jonathan. And if you want to grow into senior roles while working remotely with top-tier teams, check out the opportunities at Howdy.

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