Engineering's Ability: Engineering Systems Management

"Systems" is a generalization for DevOps roles and responsibilities that calls out the function of understanding the application framework (ruby on rails), the interconnected services (like databases, caching, 3rd party service integrations that support the application), the delivery methodology (docker) for the application environment, the cloud orchestration (AWS cloud resources for hosting and delivery), and finally understanding the necessary requirements to support the broader engineering team with their local environments and interactions with the system as it evolves over time

NOTE: The following milestones are generalized, and attempt to demonstrate progression. There's definitely opportunity to be more explicit - just wanted to start somewhere

I have observed this person showing a consistent, comfortable, continuous, and clear positive impact to a squad when wielding this ability, and therefore I would put them in situations where they can employ this ability with only a small amount of guidance

1. Successfully sets up and configures their own local development environment following the organization's guidelines.
2. Demonstrates a basic understanding of the application framework (Ruby on Rails) and can implement simple features or bug fixes.
3. Has a fundamental understanding of the interconnected services (databases, caching, 3rd party service integrations) that support the application.
4. Can efficiently navigate and utilize the delivery methodology (Docker) to build and deploy code changes.
5. Understands the basic concepts of cloud orchestration using AWS resources for hosting and delivery.

I have observed this person showing a consistent, comfortable, continuous, and clear positive impact to a squad when wielding this ability, and therefore I would put them in situations where they can employ this ability, with no assistance as well as being a trusted active or passive mentor to others

1. Actively supports team members in setting up their local development environments and resolving issues.
2. Demonstrates a deeper understanding of the application framework (Ruby on Rails) and can implement more complex features or optimize existing code.
3. Independently manages deployments using Docker and can troubleshoot issues related to the delivery pipeline.
4. Effectively manages and optimizes interconnected services that support the application (databases, caching, 3rd party service integrations).
5. Provides guidance to team members on utilizing AWS cloud resources and best practices.
6. Participates in creating and updating documentation for the broader engineering team.

I have observed this person showing a consistent, comfortable, continuous, and clear positive impact to multiple squads when wielding this ability, and therefore I would put them in situations where they can employ this ability as well as being considered an expert within this discipline

1. Leads efforts in optimizing and enhancing the application framework (Ruby on Rails) across multiple squads.
2. Drives improvements in the delivery methodology (Docker) and actively shares knowledge with other squads.
3. Serves as a subject matter expert on interconnected services (databases, caching, 3rd party service integrations) and provides guidance on optimization and troubleshooting.
4. Implements monitoring and alerting solutions to proactively identify and address issues affecting the system and its interconnected services.
5. Spearheads initiatives to improve local development environments and tools to enhance the productivity of the broader engineering team.
6. Actively contributes to optimizing AWS cloud resources and architecture for better performance, cost-efficiency, and scalability.

I have observed this person showing a consistent, comfortable, continuous, and clear positive impact to a squad when wielding this ability, and therefore I would put them in situations where they can not only employ this ability but where they set the tone for this at the company level

1. Sets and enforces best practices for the application framework (Ruby on Rails), delivery methodology (Docker), interconnected services, and orchestration (AWS cloud resources) across the entire organization.
2. Develops and maintains organization-wide documentation and training materials for the "Systems" ability.
3. Collaborates with other teams and departments to identify opportunities for integrating the "Systems" ability into cross-functional projects.
4. Leads the evaluation and adoption of new technologies and tools to enhance the "Systems" ability within the company.
5. Actively drives the organization's culture of continuous improvement, resilience, and scalability in the context of "Systems."

I have observed this person showing a consistent, comfortable, continuous, and clear positive impact to not just internal teams but the community/industry in general when wielding this ability, and they are recognized by the community/industry as an expert

1. Represents the organization in industry conferences and events, sharing expertise and insights on the "Systems" ability.
2. Contributes to the wider community by creating and maintaining open-source projects or tools related to the "Systems" ability.
3. Publishes articles, blog posts, or other thought leadership pieces showcasing the organization's approach and success in the "Systems" domain.
4. Establishes and maintains relationships with industry leaders, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.
5. Influences the development of industry standards and best practices in the "Systems" domain through active participation in relevant working groups or committees.