How AI Is Rewriting the Way Engineers Work

Vibe coding isn’t just a new buzzword—it’s a complete shift in how engineering teams build, ship, and think. Zach Wills, Director of Engineering at Luxury Presence, joins to share how his team is rewriting the rules of software delivery using AI-assisted workflows. From Greenfield experiments to Brownfield transformations, Zach breaks down the frameworks, lessons, and mindset shifts reshaping what it means to be an engineer.

Key Takeaways

Why vibe coding feels less like automation and more like a new management skill for engineers

The real differences between Greenfield and Brownfield AI-assisted projects—and how to avoid the biggest traps

How “trusting the autonomous loop” became a core principle for speed and quality

The cultural shift that happens when developers stop typing every line of code

Why teams that embrace AI early will outpace their competition, not replace their people

Timestamped Highlights

02:20 — The moment vibe coding clicked and how it compressed days of work into hours

06:45 — Testing AI in a five-year-old codebase with tens of thousands of commits

10:45 — Engineers are becoming more like managers of autonomous agents

14:40 — The hidden emotional impact of giving up “manual” coding

17:30 — Inside Zach’s eight-rule framework for productive AI workflows

25:25 — Why SDLC as we know it is breaking apart—and what replaces it

30:00 — Why fearing AI misses the point entirely

Memorable Line

“If AI can do something I was doing yesterday, I never want to do that thing again. My value comes from what only I can do.”

Pro Tip

Start small but think organizationally. Train your engineers to lead AI, not just use it. The biggest unlock isn’t speed—it’s mindset.

Call to Action

If this conversation sparked new ideas about how your team could work smarter, follow The Tech Trek wherever you listen and connect with Amir on LinkedIn for more behind-the-scenes insights.