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

🎙️ 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.

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.

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.