Beyond Coding

Author: Patrick Akil

For software engineers ready to level up. Learn from CTOs, principal engineers, and tech leaders about the skills beyond coding: from technical mastery to product thinking and career growth
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How to Think About Software Architecture (Google & AWS Veteran)
Episode 235
Tuesday, 20 January, 2026

"Architects shouldn't try to be the smartest people in the room, they should make everybody else smarter."In this episode, Gregor Hohpe (ex-Google & AWS, author of "The Software Architect Elevator") breaks down exactly how to transition from software engineer to architect. He shares the mental models used at Big Tech to handle complexity, visualize systems, and navigate office politics without losing your technical edge.We cover:- Why "lowering risk" is the architect's real value proposition- The "Phantom Sketch Artist" technique to visualize unclear requirements- How to gain "political capital" to push back on bad decisions- Why simple architectures are often the hardest to buildIf you want to move beyond just writing code and start designing systems that scale, this conversation is for you.Connect with Gregor:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghohpe00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:15 - How to Spot Bad Architects vs. Great Amplifiers 00:03:44 - Why Architects Are Actually Risk Managers in Disguise 00:06:13 - The Truth About Complexity and Simplicity at Scale 00:09:55 - How to Resolve Technical Disagreements Without Arguments 00:13:57 - Why You Should Use Pen and Paper for Architecture 00:17:24 - Mastering the Left-Right Brain Ping Pong Technique 00:20:42 - The "Architect Elevator": Connecting Code to Strategy 00:23:06 - The Rubber Duck Test: Are You a Good Architect? 00:25:41 - The "Phantom Sketch Artist" Method for System Design 00:30:37 - Stop Being a Cartographer, Start Being a Scout 00:34:47 - How to Keep Your Technical Skills Sharp as an Architect 00:44:37 - Navigating Office Politics using the "Court Jester" Strategy 00:48:08 - How to Earn and Spend Political Capital Wisely 00:53:17 - Why the "Big Ball of Mud" Might Be a Good Architecture 00:57:08 - How Executives Spot Gaps in Your Technical Logic 01:00:00 - Why Using AI for Architecture is a Dangerous Trap#SoftwareArchitecture #SystemDesign #SeniorDeveloper