Señors at Scale

Dan Neciu

Welcome to Señors at Scale, the podcast where seasoned engineers spill the secrets, successes, and facepalms of building and maintaining software at scale. Join host Neciu Dan as we sit down with Staff Engineers, Principal Engineers, and other senior technologists to dive deep into the hard-won lessons of distributed systems, technical leadership, and scaling products that refuse to stay small. From war stories in incident response to behind-the-scenes architecture decisions, each episode brings a mix of practical insights, hard truths, and a healthy dose of dev humor. If you’ve ever wrang

Episódios

  1. HÁ 4 DIAS

    Vue at Scale with Andreas Panopoulos

    In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Andreas Panopoulos — Staff Software Engineer at Hack the Box and co-organizer of Vue.js Athens — joins Dan to share his journey from building jQuery landing pages to leading frontend teams powered by Vue.Andreas walks us through the evolution of Vue.js, from version 2 to 3, and how features like the Composition API and TypeScript support transformed developer experience. He shares what it was like to rewrite Hack the Box’s Academy platform on Nuxt 3, why Vue scales for millions of users, and what performance practices every frontend team should keep in mind.We also dive into the human side of engineering: why understanding the basics of JavaScript is essential even when using frameworks, how public speaking and community organizing can accelerate growth, and why keeping things simple often beats overengineering.Along the way, Andreas reflects on lessons learned from his early career, his transition to staff engineer, and the role of community in shaping modern engineering culture.🎯 Whether you’re a Vue enthusiast, frontend engineer, or developer community organizer, this episode is packed with practical insights and stories from the trenches.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Andreas Panopoulos02:56 Andreas's Journey into Programming09:52 Transitioning to Frontend Development17:52 Current Role at Hack the Box21:41 Vue 2 vs Vue 3: A Developer's Perspective26:13 Lessons Learned from Early Career30:21 Transition to Staff Engineer34:46 Project Updates and Future Plans35:54 Understanding Hack the Box38:25 Security Practices in Development39:47 Performance and User Experience42:03 Vue's Popularity in Athens46:12 Business Logic and Frameworks47:27 Challenges in Finding Speakers52:26 Public Speaking Experiences56:34 Relaxation and Personal Interests58:00 Book RecommendationsFollow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/#vuejs #vue3 #nuxt #frontenddevelopment #javascript #hackthebox #softwareengineering #webdevelopment #engineeringculture #señorsatscaleDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. Are you using Vue at scale in your team? Share your experience below 👇

    1h1min

  2. 14 DE SET.

    Frontend Architecture at Scale with Faris Aziz

    In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Faris Aziz — Staff Front-End Engineer at Small PDF, international speaker, and co-founder of ZurichJS — joins Dan to talk about scaling both frontend architecture and engineering culture.Faris shares his unconventional journey from CrossFit trainer to software engineer, and how personal projects became his gateway into tech. He opens up about the realities of working on applications serving 30 million+ users, why BFF architecture is such a powerful pattern for managing data between front-end and back-end, and the hidden pitfalls of performance when building with React and Next.js.We also dig into the human side of architecture: how observability, error management, and developer experience shape reliable systems; why ownership and accountability drive better outcomes than process checklists; and how stress can be reframed when you work in a culture of trust.And beyond code, Faris reflects on community: what it takes to co-found a thriving JavaScript meetup in Zurich, why meetups are “mini start-ups,” and how community building fuels personal and professional growth.🎯 Whether you’re a frontend engineer, engineering manager, or developer community organizer, this episode is packed with architectural insights and real-world lessons from the trenches.---Chapters00:00 Introduction to Faris Aziz and His Journey05:46 From Fitness to Coding: The Bootcamp Experience08:33 Building Personal Projects and Learning by Doing11:28 The Impact of Global Work Culture on Engineering14:24 Co-founding ZurichJS: Building Community in Tech19:57 Technical Insights: React vs. Next.js at Scale25:38 Scaling Challenges in Data Representation31:35 Understanding the BFF Architecture40:44 Authentication and Security in BFFs43:30 Comparing BFF with GraphQL and TRPC49:09 Innovative UI Approaches in Application Development51:27 A Day in the Life of a Staff Engineer52:13 Strategic Engineering at Scale55:46 Managing Stress and Engineering Culture01:01:06 Finding Balance in High-Stakes Environments01:05:37 Book Recommendations and Personal Insights---Follow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/#frontend #nextjs #bffarchitecture #javascript #react #softwaredevelopment #engineeringculture #techevents #zurichjs #webdevelopment #señorsatscaleDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. Have you ever built — or struggled with — frontend architecture at scale? Share your experience below 👇

    1h12min

  3. 7 DE SET.

    Organising Conferences at Scale with Aris, founder of CityJS

    In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Aris — founder of CityJS and longtime community builder — joins Dan to talk about the journey from small local meetups to organizing one of the fastest-growing global JavaScript conferences.Aris shares his unlikely path into programming, starting as a basketball-loving student in Greece with no computer at home, to innovating on the job with early Java projects, and eventually embracing frontend frameworks like Angular, React, and Vue. Along the way, he reflects on the competitive yet collaborative nature of programming, the evolution of the frontend ecosystem, and why choosing the “best” framework often depends less on hype and more on context.We dig into the heart of community building: why meetups matter beyond the pizza, how to create opportunities for first-time speakers, and the hidden challenges of finding sponsors and keeping attendees engaged. Aris also opens up about the leap from organizing monthly gatherings to running large-scale international conferences, and why he believes conferences should be treated as professional training — not optional perks.🎯 Whether you’re a frontend developer, a meetup organizer, or simply curious about what it takes to build thriving developer communities, this conversation offers a rare inside look at the messy, human, and rewarding world of tech events.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Name Origins04:14 Aris's Journey into Programming06:56 First Job and Early Experiences09:32 Transition to Frontend Development12:23 Framework Preferences and Ecosystem14:56 Meetups and Community Building17:44 The Importance of Networking20:11 Organizing Meetups and Conferences22:54 Creating Opportunities for New Speakers25:41 Challenges in Meetup Attendance27:32 Sponsorship Strategies for Meetups34:28 Transitioning from Meetups to Conferences39:37 The Value of Conferences for ProfessionalsFollow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/#javascript #conferences #developercommunity #frontend #meetups #cityjs #softwareengineering #techevents #communitybuilding #señorsatscale #webdevelopmentDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. Have you ever spoken — or wanted to speak — at a tech meetup or conference? Share your experience below 👇

    44min

  4. 31 DE AGO.

    Open Source at Scale with Erik Rasmussen

    In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Eric Rasmussen — creator of Redux Form and React Final Form, now Principal Product Engineer at Attio — joins Dan to talk about building open source at scale, developer experience, and the lessons learned from two decades of shipping frontend software.Eric shares his journey from early experiments with BASIC and FoxPro to designing Attio’s secure SDK ecosystem, which enables third-party developers to extend a next-generation CRM. Along the way, he opens up about the pitfalls of feature creep in open source, the evolution from Redux Form to React Final Form, and how AI is already reshaping documentation.We dive into why developer ergonomics matter more than ever, how strict design systems preserve product quality, and what it really takes to manage breaking changes when your code runs in thousands of apps. Eric also offers practical advice for juniors looking to break into open source, as well as insights on testing strategies, state machines, and the libraries he can’t live without.🎯 Whether you’re maintaining a popular open source library, building SDKs for other developers, or just curious about the hidden costs of “yes” in software design, this conversation is full of hard-won lessons from the trenches.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Eric Rasmussen and His Journey05:34 Early Programming Experiences and First Job08:01 Transition to Principal Engineer at Atio10:37 Understanding Atio's CRM and Its Market Position13:08 Developer Experience and Building for Other Developers15:29 The Role of Documentation in Developer Tools18:03 SDK Development and Framework Choices20:30 Building a Secure and Custom Runtime22:54 Managing Breaking Changes and Developer Feedback25:28 The Creation of Redux Form and Its Impact27:59 Testing Strategies for SDKs and Components33:48 Building a Design System35:27 React Final Form: Evolution and Insights41:11 The Journey from Redux to React Final Form46:08 Choosing State Management Solutions48:10 Overused Libraries and Tools54:25 Advice for Junior Developers59:32 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts01:04:25 OutroFollow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/#opensource #reduxform #reactfinalform #frontend #developerexperience #sdk #documentation #designsystems #softwareengineering #señorsatscale #techtalks #webdevelopmentDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. What’s your favorite open source library — and how has it shaped your work? Share below 👇Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines.

    1h4min

  5. 24 DE AGO.

    Mentorship at Scale with Eduardo Aparicio Cardenas

    In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Front-End Engineer and ADPList Top 100 Mentor Eduardo Aparicio-Cardenas joins Dan to talk about mentorship, career growth, and leadership at scale — from debugging real-world performance issues to guiding engineers through promotions and burnout.Eduardo shares lessons from 15+ years building web products, why perception often matters more than output for promotions, and how curiosity and frustration can be powerful motivators for learning. He breaks down what makes a strong tech lead, how to run compelling mock interviews, and why knowledge sharing is the ultimate multiplier for both mentor and mentee.They also discuss system design interviews (and why front-end design is often overlooked), strategies for breaking down problems, and what it truly means to grow from senior to staff to principal engineer.🎯 Whether you're mentoring juniors, preparing for a promotion, or just trying to be a better communicator on your team, this episode is packed with practical advice for engineers navigating their careers.Get in touch with Eduardo here https://eduardo-aparicio-cardenes.website, https://medium.com/@byeduardoac and if you are looking for a mentor: https://adplist.org/mentors/eduardo-dev or https://eduardo-aparicio-cardenes.website/mentor-profileChapters00:00 Journey to Front-End Engineering11:11 Transitioning to Happening and Current Projects18:51 Becoming a Mentor and Sharing Knowledge19:14 The Journey of Mentorship23:37 Understanding Mentee Needs28:18 The Importance of Sharing Knowledge31:43 Personal Growth and Agency36:13 Navigating Promotions and Perception39:16 Navigating Project Expectations in Tech Companies41:56 The Role of a Tech Lead44:39 Effective Communication in Tech47:18 Interview Strategies for Success49:54 System Design Insights52:22 Handling Burnout and Career Growth54:48 Recommended Reads for ProfessionalsFollow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/#softwareengineering #mentorship #frontend #career #promotion #systemdesign #burnout #staffengineer #leadership #señorsatscale #techtalks #webdevelopmentDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. Have you had a mentor who changed the course of your career? Share your story below 👇

    59min

  6. 18 DE AGO.

    React at Scale with Matheus Albuquerque

    In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Staff Frontend Engineer Matheus Albuquerque joins Dan to talk all things React, rendering, and real-world performance at scale.They dive into React scheduling and fibers, why rendering strategies always “depend,” and how to make performance decisions when millions of users are at stake. Mateusz shares war stories about dropdowns with 16,000 options, migrating a stable React app to SSR (and regretting it), and what happens when browsers you’ve never heard of load your app in production. They also unpack how feature flags and ring deployments help ship safely, why junior devs struggle when they learn frameworks before fundamentals, and how mentorship + RFC-driven development can keep teams moving in the right direction.🎯 Whether you’re debugging hydration issues, experimenting with performance APIs, or mentoring new frontend engineers, this one is full of sharp lessons from the trenches of large-scale React. *Chapters* 00:00 Introduction to Mateusz Albuquerque 04:19 The Journey to Programming 06:57 Diving into Frontend Development 09:33 Understanding React Scheduling 12:21 Rendering Strategies in React 15:01 Web Performance Challenges and Solutions 17:30 Techniques for Optimizing Performance 20:01 Common Challenges for New Developers 32:13 The Importance of Foundational Knowledge 33:56 The Value of RFC-Driven Development 35:42 Proud Achievements in Software Development 39:57 Challenges and Bugs in Large Scale Applications 46:11 Best Practices for Frontend Development 49:40 Recommended Reading for Developers 54:22 Personal Interests and Relaxation Techniques Follow & Subscribe: 📸 Instagram: [  / senorsatscale  ](  / senorsatscale  ) 📸 Instagram: [  / neciudev  ](  / neciudev  ) 🎙 Podcast URL: [https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale](https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale) 📬 Newsletter: [https://neciudan.dev/subscribe](https://neciudan.dev/subscribe)💼 LinkedIn: [  / neciudan  ](  / neciudan  ) 💼 LinkedIn: [  / se%c3%b1ors-scale  ](  / se%c3%b1ors-scale  ) Keywords: Mateusz Albuquerque, React, frontend development, web performance, programming challenges, mentorship, feature flags, deployment strategies, tech conferences, performance optimization Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. Have you ever been burned by performance issues in production React apps? Share your story below 👇

    59min

  7. 11 DE AGO.

    Refactoring at Scale with Jose Calderon

    In this engaging conversation, Jose Calderon, a lead software engineer at JP Morgan Chase, shares his journey into software engineering, his passion for Java and the Spring ecosystem, and the importance of documentation and decision-making in software architecture. He discusses the evolving role of AI in coding, offers tips for learning Java, and emphasizes the significance of mentoring future engineers. The conversation also touches on crafting engaging conference talks, testing strategies for enterprise software, and the balance between refactoring and rewriting code. Jose concludes with book recommendations and insights into the gaming world as a form of relaxation. Takeaways Jose's journey into software engineering began with a passion for fixing computers and playing games.Java's ecosystem is robust, with a strong community and rapid evolution.Documentation of architectural decisions is crucial for future reference and understanding.AI tools can enhance productivity but should not replace fundamental coding skills.Unit tests should serve as documentation for code behavior.The choice between refactoring and rewriting code depends on the stability and control of the existing system.Chaos engineering helps teams prepare for unexpected failures in production environments.Mentoring future engineers is essential for fostering a strong tech community.Crafting engaging conference talks involves storytelling and relatable analogies.Gaming can serve as a form of relaxation and mental recharge for developers. Sound Bites "You can build whatever you want and play around." "The world is your oyster with Java." "You can simplify and still be effective." Keywords software engineering, Java, Spring, coding, technology, software architecture, mentoring, conference talks, decision making, testing strategies, chaos engineering, AI in coding, book recommendations, gaming

    1h8min

  8. 4 DE AGO.

    Pragmatism at Scale with Tudor Barbu

    🎙️ In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Principal Engineer Tudor Barbu (ex-Personio, Skyscanner) shares two decades of software engineering lessons — from hacking on cassette-based machines to leading platform efforts in modern frontend teams. We talk debugging horror stories, the evolution of tech roles post-pandemic, and the shift from chasing technical perfection to delivering user value. Tudor breaks down what it means to be a pragmatic engineer, how he interviews for adaptability, and why ownership (not just code) drives results. Whether you're mentoring juniors, scaling architecture, or just tired of reading octal bugs — this one’s for you.

    56min

  9. 27 DE JUL.

    Interviewing at Scale with Angel Paredes

    Summary In this conversation, Angel Paredes, an engineering manager at Datadog, shares his journey from being a student with a passion for art to becoming a successful engineer and manager in the tech industry. He discusses the differences between the tech environments in Madrid and Barcelona, his transition to engineering management, and the importance of team dynamics and leadership. Angel also delves into the evolving landscape of engineering roles, the challenges of interviewing in tech, and shares valuable book recommendations for personal and professional growth. Takeaways Angel's journey reflects the importance of finding one's passion in engineering. The tech environments in Madrid and Barcelona have distinct characteristics. Transitioning to management doesn't mean stopping coding; it's about balancing both. Effective team management requires understanding individual motivations and challenges. The future of engineering roles may shift towards product management and AI integration. Interviews in tech are evolving, moving away from traditional algorithms to more practical assessments. Cheating in interviews is a growing concern, especially with AI tools. Cultural fit is crucial, but it should not overshadow technical skills in hiring. Continuous learning and adaptation are essential in the fast-paced tech industry. Books on management can provide valuable insights and frameworks for personal growth.

    1h1min

  10. 18 DE JUL.

    Performance at Scale - With Danilo Velasquez

    In this kickoff episode of Señors @ Scale, host Neciu Dan sits down with Danilo Velasquez — Staff Engineer at Adevinta and longtime frontend performance obsessive. They unpack the real battles behind Web Vitals, micro frontends, and the growing complexity of modern frontend work. Danilo shares war stories like: Supporting Internet Explorer 6 in production (yes, really) Building a homegrown Lighthouse bot to track 100+ pages every 15 minutes How Core Web Vitals became the trigger for SEO incidents Why platform work is often the highest-leverage role When React “won the war” (and why he still prefers Vue) How a setTimeout(0) hack saved his team’s performance It’s a candid, technical, and surprisingly human look at engineering at scale — packed with lessons for frontend leads, staff engineers, and anyone optimizing in the wild. 🎧 Whether you're wrestling with architecture decisions, debugging layout shifts, or mentoring your next hire — this one's for you.

    57min
  • 10 episódios

Sobre

Welcome to Señors at Scale, the podcast where seasoned engineers spill the secrets, successes, and facepalms of building and maintaining software at scale. Join host Neciu Dan as we sit down with Staff Engineers, Principal Engineers, and other senior technologists to dive deep into the hard-won lessons of distributed systems, technical leadership, and scaling products that refuse to stay small. From war stories in incident response to behind-the-scenes architecture decisions, each episode brings a mix of practical insights, hard truths, and a healthy dose of dev humor. If you’ve ever wrang

Informações

  • Criado por
    Dan Neciu
  • Anos de atividade
    2 mil
  • Episódios
    10
  • Classificação
    Livre
  • Copyright
    © Dan Neciu
  • Site do podcast
    Señors at Scale