The Modern Engineer Podcast

Syed Ishaat
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The Modern Engineer is a high-signal podcast for senior engineers, managers, and tech operators navigating the jump from Senior to Staff, Staff to Principal, and beyond. Each episode spotlights experienced professionals inside companies like Google, Meta, and Apple as they share what actually moves the needle at the top levels of engineering careers. We talk about: Breaking into engineering leadership Managing high and low performers Giving hard feedback Navigating big-tech politics Negotiating $300k+ compensation packages Deciding when to switch companies vs. stay for equity upside Building long-term career moats Managing burnout without sacrificing growth This isn’t generic career advice. It’s strategic insight for engineers who want leverage, status growth, and long-term optionality, while staying sharp, relevant, and in control of their trajectory. If you’re serious about maximizing your engineering career, you’re in the right place.

Episodes

  1. The Biggest Career Mistakes Engineers Make (And How to Avoid Them)

    6d ago

    The Biggest Career Mistakes Engineers Make (And How to Avoid Them)

    What does it take for an engineer to grow into leadership, navigate career pivots, and build long-term professional success? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Gary Gillespie to discuss his journey from working at NASA Johnson Space Center to leading software companies and co-founding a startup in the IT space. Gary shares practical lessons on networking, leadership, communication skills, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and how engineers can intentionally shape their careers over time. Gary is also the co-founder of Rhodium Systems Inc., a company focused on IT software solutions and DNS configuration management. Learn more here: ResorsIT What You’ll Learn How Gary transitioned from mechanical engineering into software Why networking matters more than most engineers realize The communication skills engineers need to develop What changes when you move into leadership roles Why side hustles and complementary skills matter today How engineers can become more intentional with career growth Chapters [00:00] Introduction [00:38] Gary’s Current Role in Software Startups [01:32] Starting at NASA Johnson Space Center [02:26] Transitioning Into Software Engineering [03:08] Career Challenges During the Dot-Com Era [04:32] The Career Pivot That Changed Everything [06:03] Growing Into Leadership Roles [08:00] Why Communication Skills Matter for Engineers [10:04] Networking & Helping Others Succeed [12:20] Why Engineers Should Take Initiative [13:53] Side Hustles & Career Optionality [15:10] Career Advice Gary Wishes He Knew Earlier [16:20] Intentional Career Growth for Engineers [17:02] Final Thoughts Want to share your story? Book a Call here!

    16 min
  2. Why Most Founders Fail at Team Building (And How to Fix It)

    Jun 3

    Why Most Founders Fail at Team Building (And How to Fix It)

    What happens when a 20-year Air Force career meets entrepreneurship, startup pivots, and relentless persistence? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with retired U.S. Air Force veteran and Montjoy Inc. founder Timothy Montjoy to discuss his journey from military service into the tech startup world. Timothy shares the lessons he learned transitioning into civilian life, building a startup team, navigating uncertainty, and why mentorship became one of the biggest accelerators in his entrepreneurial journey. From leadership and resilience to startup execution and long-term thinking, this episode is packed with practical insights for engineers, founders, veterans, and aspiring entrepreneurs. What You’ll Learn How veterans can transition into entrepreneurship Why startup pivots are sometimes necessary The importance of mentorship and networking How to build balanced, high-performing teams Leadership lessons from military experience Why persistence matters more than perfection Chapters [00:00] Introduction [01:10] Transitioning from the Air Force to entrepreneurship [03:45] Building a nonprofit and startup journey [06:20] Taking risks and overcoming fear [08:30] The challenge of building the right team [12:15] Founder Institute and startup acceleration [15:10] Persistence and navigating setbacks [18:20] Long-term thinking and business growth [20:10] Advice for younger professionals [21:40] Final thoughts Want to share your story? Book a Call here: Click me!

    21 min
  3. How Engineers Can Build Wealth Beyond Their Tech Career

    May 27

    How Engineers Can Build Wealth Beyond Their Tech Career

    What happens when an engineer starts thinking beyond just a paycheck? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Ajay Katneni to discuss his journey from data engineering and automation to entrepreneurship and real estate investing. Ajay shares how consistently meeting client expectations shaped his career, why intentional focus matters, and the investing lesson he wishes he learned much earlier. If you're an engineer, tech professional, or entrepreneur thinking about long-term wealth and career growth, this conversation offers practical perspective grounded in real-world experience. What You’ll Learn How Ajay built a 20+ year tech career Why client relationships accelerated his growth The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur Why engineers should think about investing early How real estate became a second growth engine The importance of making your money work for you Chapters [00:00] – Introduction [00:28] – Ajay’s background in tech and data engineering [01:28] – Moving from engineering into entrepreneurship [02:06] – The key to career growth: client expectations [03:02] – Leadership, responsibility, and recognition [04:01] – Advice for engineers seeking success [05:05] – Making your money work for you [06:34] – Why Ajay wishes he started investing earlier [08:08] – The best time to start is now [08:50] – Final thoughts and closing Apply to Be a Guest! Click here

    9 min
  4. Software Engineering Career Growth, Mentorship & Kubernetes at Microsoft

    May 20

    Software Engineering Career Growth, Mentorship & Kubernetes at Microsoft

    What does it actually take to grow into a senior software engineering role at Microsoft? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Paul Johnston shares his journey from struggling to land internships to becoming a Senior Software Engineer working on Kubernetes networking at Microsoft Azure. Paul breaks down the mindset shifts, technical habits, mentorship lessons, and communication skills that helped accelerate his career growth. He also shares why internal tooling, ownership, and helping teammates became the foundation for his promotions. Whether you’re a computer science student, junior engineer, or experienced developer looking to level up, this episode is packed with practical insights for long-term growth in tech. What You’ll Learn How Paul bounced back after internship rejections Why mentorship matters more than prestige early on The real responsibilities of a Senior Software Engineer How Kubernetes and Azure networking fit into Microsoft Why internal tools and automation accelerate career growth The importance of people skills in engineering How side projects and coaching created new opportunities Chapters [00:00] Introduction [00:33] What Paul Does at Microsoft [01:20] Struggling to Land Internships [03:00] First Engineering Role as a Web Developer [04:18] Landing Opportunities After Persistence [05:30] Joining Microsoft During the Kubernetes Boom [07:05] Building Internal Tools & Automation [09:20] The Mindset Shift Into Senior Engineering [11:15] Why Mentorship Matters More Than Prestige [12:50] Side Projects, Coaching & YouTube [15:05] Passion Before Profit [16:00] Why Engineers Need Better People Skills [17:00] Closing Thoughts & Coolster Codes Want to share your story? Book a Call here: Click me!

    17 min
  5. How Engineers Can Build Careers Through Networking, Risk & Entrepreneurship

    May 13

    How Engineers Can Build Careers Through Networking, Risk & Entrepreneurship

    Most engineers focus on technical skills, but career growth often comes down to networking, adaptability, risk-taking, and mindset. In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Vincent Ceyssens, founder and president of Porter Security Programming, to discuss engineering career pivots, entrepreneurship, leadership, and building a life that prioritizes both growth and family. Vincent shares lessons from working in research engineering, STEM education, IT leadership, and launching his own business in the security technology industry. What You’ll Learn Why networking matters more than most engineers realize How engineers can navigate career pivots successfully The mindset shift required to become an entrepreneur Why discomfort is necessary for growth How to balance career ambition with family priorities Lessons from building a technology-focused business Chapters [00:00] Intro [01:18] Vincent’s engineering background [03:45] Early career challenges [08:20] Taking ownership of your career [11:02] The power of mindset and personal growth [14:12] Entrepreneurship and stepping into discomfort [17:45] Building a business and balancing family [21:03] Networking advice for engineers [25:10] Final career advice for young professionals Want to share your story? Book a Call here: Click me!

    24 min
  6. AI Is Changing Engineering Forever (Adapt or Fall Behind)

    May 6

    AI Is Changing Engineering Forever (Adapt or Fall Behind)

    AI isn’t just a tool anymore, it’s becoming part of how engineers actually work. In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Senior Software Engineer Khushan Adatiya to break down what it really takes to grow in today’s fast-changing engineering landscape. From transitioning into cloud engineering to working with real production systems, Khushan shares the mindset shifts that helped him move from junior developer to building AI infrastructure. What You’ll Learn Why real engineering starts when systems fail How AI is changing the way developers work daily The difference between academic coding and production systems Why visibility matters more than you think How to adapt faster in the AI era Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Khushan’s background in cloud & AI 02:30 Challenges moving from university to real systems 04:20 Career turning point: impact & responsibility 06:00 AI in engineering workflows 08:30 Why engineers must adapt to AI 10:00 Career growth: visibility & impact 11:30 Getting out of your comfort zone 13:00 Advice for early-career engineers 14:30 Final thoughts: unlearn & relearn   👉 Apply to be the next guest: Click here!

    13 min
  7. From Small Town to Microsoft: Real Career Lessons for Software Engineers

    Apr 29

    From Small Town to Microsoft: Real Career Lessons for Software Engineers

    What actually drives success in a software engineering career? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Microsoft engineer and founder Vijay Valaboju to unpack the real factors behind long-term growth in tech. From starting in a small town in India to building a career at Microsoft, Vijay shares how mentorship, failure, and stepping outside your comfort zone shaped his journey and what engineers often overlook when trying to level up. He also shares insights from building his own platform, Stunsy, and the realities of taking a product from development to market. What You’ll Learn: Why staying comfortable slows your career growth How mentorship can accelerate your trajectory The role of failure in becoming a better engineer Why building a product isn’t enough, distribution matters How to develop a self-starter mindset in tech Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:05 Vijay’s early career journey 04:30 Transition to Accenture, HCL, and Microsoft 07:00 Challenges and learning from mistakes 09:30 Mentorship and career acceleration 13:00 Advice for engineers starting out 15:30 Building Stunsy and startup lessons 18:30 Final thoughts on failure and growth 🎮 Check out Vijay’s platform: Stunsy 👉 Apply to be a guest: The Modern Engineer - Booking Link

    18 min
  8. Why Every Engineer Needs Field Experience Early in Their Career: Real Career Lessons in Construction & QC

    Apr 22

    Why Every Engineer Needs Field Experience Early in Their Career: Real Career Lessons in Construction & QC

    Most engineers leave school without fully understanding how the real world works. In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Eamon Quinn to break down what actually shapes a successful engineering career, especially in the early stages. From stepping into unfamiliar roles to gaining hands-on field experience, Eamon shares how real growth happens outside the classroom and often outside your comfort zone. What You’ll Learn: Why field experience is critical for engineers How to transition from school to real-world engineering The role of mindset in career growth How collaboration drives better engineering solutions What early-career engineers often get wrong Key Highlights: Eamon’s journey from college to working in precast concrete The impact of rotating through different roles His pivotal field assignment that changed everything Why engineers should embrace challenges, not avoid them Timestamp: 00:00 Introduction & Guest Background 01:05 Transitioning Into a QC Technician Role 02:20 Starting an Engineering Career After College 04:10 Rotating Through Roles & Learning the Business 05:40 The Challenge of Stepping Outside Comfort Zones 07:00 The Power of Field Experience in Engineering 09:00 Career Turning Point: First Field Assignment 11:00 Engineering as Problem Solving & Collaboration 12:45 Mindset vs Grinding in Career Growth 14:10 Advice for Early-Career Engineers 15:30 Final Thoughts & Career Perspective   👉 Apply here to be the next guest: https://modernengineerpodcast.com/podcast-booking

    16 min
  9. Engineering Career Growth: From RF Specialist to Technical Manager!

    Apr 16

    Engineering Career Growth: From RF Specialist to Technical Manager!

    Making the transition from military to engineering isn’t just about skills.. it’s about mindset, persistence, and knowing when to take action. In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Joseph Francis shares his journey from serving in the military to becoming a Technical Implementation Manager working with major utility clients. He breaks down the real challenges he faced, including early career setbacks, being laid off, and learning leadership the hard way and what ultimately helped him grow into a leadership role. If you're navigating your engineering career or transitioning out of the military, this episode gives you a practical, honest roadmap. What You’ll Learn: How to transition from military to engineering roles The role of networking in career breakthroughs Why servant leadership beats micromanagement How to recover from early career setbacks When to pursue leadership (even if you don’t feel ready) Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Joseph’s current role as Technical Implementation Manager 02:30 – Military background and RF communications experience 05:00 – Transition into engineering role 07:30 – Moving into leadership and management 10:00 – Servant leadership vs micromanagement 13:00 – Career pivot and relocation decision 16:00 – Advice for military transitioning into engineering 19:00 – Lessons learned and career advice 22:00 – Final thoughts   Want to be featured at my show? Schedule a Call here: Click here

    24 min
  10. What EMC Engineers Actually Do: Career Lessons from a Lead EMC Engineer

    Apr 8

    What EMC Engineers Actually Do: Career Lessons from a Lead EMC Engineer

    What does an EMC engineer actually do, and what does the career path look like after engineering school? In this episode of The Modern Engineer, Syed Ishaat sits down with Lead EMC Engineer Afzal Fazal to break down the real-world journey from RF testing to leading compliance engineering teams. Afzal shares how he started his career after engineering school, working in RF network testing before transitioning into electromagnetic compliance (EMC) engineering. He explains how engineers test products to ensure they meet strict regulatory standards and how design modifications help companies bring compliant products to market. The conversation also dives into the realities of engineering careers, long hours early on, learning through audits, navigating challenges during COVID, and the importance of continuous learning. Afzal also shares practical advice for engineers early in their careers on how to grow professionally while staying focused on personal development. What You'll Learn What EMC engineers do in real-world engineering environments How compliance testing works Career lessons from a lead EMC engineer The importance of engineering audits and regulatory requirements How engineers can grow through strategic work and continuous learning Why personal growth matters just as much as career success Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 1:02 What a Lead EMC Engineer Does 3:10 Starting an Engineering Career After College 6:05 RF Testing and Early Career Work 9:20 Career Changes During COVID 12:40 The Audit That Changed His Career 16:05 Engineering Teamwork and Professional Growth 19:30 Hard Work vs Strategic Career Growth 22:10 Advice for Early-Career Engineers 26:00 Personal Growth vs Corporate Success 28:10 Closing Thoughts Become my Next Guest: click here

    29 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

The Modern Engineer is a high-signal podcast for senior engineers, managers, and tech operators navigating the jump from Senior to Staff, Staff to Principal, and beyond. Each episode spotlights experienced professionals inside companies like Google, Meta, and Apple as they share what actually moves the needle at the top levels of engineering careers. We talk about: Breaking into engineering leadership Managing high and low performers Giving hard feedback Navigating big-tech politics Negotiating $300k+ compensation packages Deciding when to switch companies vs. stay for equity upside Building long-term career moats Managing burnout without sacrificing growth This isn’t generic career advice. It’s strategic insight for engineers who want leverage, status growth, and long-term optionality, while staying sharp, relevant, and in control of their trajectory. If you’re serious about maximizing your engineering career, you’re in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Syed Ishaat
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Modern Engineer Podcast