My current role is Principal Engineer. But what does that title actually mean?
The roles of Staff Engineer and Principal Engineer can vary significantly between companies, leading to differing expectations regarding their responsibilities. Typically, these positions are held by seasoned senior software engineers who demonstrate autonomy, a willingness to take on increased responsibilities, and the ability to establish technical direction. Additionally, effective communication and strong leadership skills are essential attributes for success in these roles.
So what is it like to be a Principal Engineer at Coolblue? I think the best way to describe is to give you a glimpse of what a typical day at my work looks like. So let’s go fot it!
Kicking Off with PR Reviews
First stop: the Pull Requests queue. Today, I’m diving into some significant changes to our AWS Landing Zone. Think of it as the foundation of everything we build in the cloud. A solid Landing Zone keeps things tidy, secure, and scalable — so no pressure, right? Reviewing these PRs isn’t just about checking for syntax errors; it’s about ensuring we’re creating a solid platform that align with our long-term goals.
Mapping Out Salt Stack’s Evolution
Salt Stack has been our trusty tool for configuration management, and with our new AWS account structure, it’s time to level up. I pair with a colleague cloud engineer and spend some time sketching out the next steps: what needs tweaking, what needs an overhaul, and how we’re going to implement it without breaking things.
Pairing with Dev Teams on CDK
Pair programming is always a highlight. I often team up with development teams to help them onboard AWS CDK within our shiny new multi-account setup. It’s a bit like being a tour guide—explaining the why behind the design, sharing some best practices, and making sure everyone’s comfortable navigating this new landscape. Watching teams connect the dots is very rewarding.
Strategic Chit-Chat with the Tech Boss
Next, it’s time to sync with the Tech Boss. We’ve got this strategic project in the works that’s been keeping us on our toes. These discussions are less about nitty-gritty technical details and more about the big picture: Are we hitting our milestones? Are there blockers we need to smash through? It’s all about making sure the ship stays on course.
Road Map Reviews: Where Are We Headed?
In the afternoon, I sit down with the Product Owner and the rest of the team to go over the roadmap. It’s our chance to recalibrate and ensure we’re focusing on the right things. Are we balancing short-term wins with long-term investments? Is there anything we need to reprioritize? These conversations keep us aligned and moving forward.
Iterating on Static Website Deployments
Finally, I get to roll up my sleeves and work on our CDK solution for deploying static websites to S3. This is where the magic happens—figuring out how to make it faster, simpler, and more foolproof for teams to use. It’s a mix of coding, testing, and the occasional “aha” moment when everything clicks.
So, that’s a typical day at work for me. It’s a mix of strategy, hands-on problem-solving, and collaboration—all in the name of building a cloud environment that’s not just functional but genuinely empowering for our teams. And yes, coffee helps. A lot.