Uber, the US-based transportation service provider, has seen significant growth over the past decade. The company currently operates in over 10,000 cities in more than 70 countries and continues to build its presence every year. Due to their global reach, they now also manage 30,000 employees across the globe.

Ever wondered how Uber manages its engineers to ensure the best product for its consumers? In this article, you’ll get an insider look at how engineering management works at Uber’s Amsterdam office. You’ll also learn some actionable tips that you can implement in your own teams.

Engineering Management at Uber, Amsterdam: What is it like?

Engineering managers at Uber Amsterdam work passionately with their teams to achieve the overall goal of the organization. They work in an environment that is culture-driven, cooperative, scalable, and motivating enough to ensure the development of the organization and its people. Engineering managers at Uber also serve as mentors to their teammates, aiding their development personally and professionally. Here are a few ways Uber Amsterdam uses management to help their teams succeed.

Set Growth and Development as Priority

One main goal of Uber is to promote growth and development at all times. Aside from the USA, Amsterdam has the largest engineering office and this had been a major pull for them to continue striving and growing. They are laser-focused on growing their presence in the region, bringing more challenging opportunities that they are prepared to face. Their dedication to growth and development has made Uber Amsterdam one of the fastest-growing offices within the company.

Maintain Small Engineering Teams

Engineering teams generally consist of about eight to twelve engineers per engineering manager. The team could be all homogenous consisting of engineers with the same work background (e.g. all backend engineers or React developers). It could also be a heterogeneous team of people of various expertise and skills grouped together. Either way, these developers work together to achieve the goal of the team and the organization as a whole.

Demanding Work with Growth Opportunities

Working in the engineering department at Uber Amsterdam isn’t easy. Their focus on growth makes work very demanding, especially for new recruits. However, the path to leadership positions is made very clear from the start. Throughout a developer’s time at Uber, they will learn how the company operates, solve many challenging situations, and set themselves up to grow within the firm.

Encourages Self Direction

Teams are allowed to work independently on their own. Every team is held responsible for its results, rather than the path it took them to get there. While projects are carried out with the supervision of the managers, team members are given quite a bit of autonomy. This approach to engineering management allows firms to put their intellectuals at work and fosters a culture of creativity and innovation that is necessary to succeed in today’s highly competitive business landscape.

Career Development and Growth Opportunities at Uber Amsterdam

Every organization has its ways of promoting growth among its employees. Uber Amsterdam is no different. Below are several ways in which the engineering department at Uber encourages career development and growth among its teams.

Mentor and Mentee Program

The mentor and mentee program is a regular part of the engineering team. Individual engineers and teams are encouraged to seek mentorship within the organization and outside of it. Official mentorship is provided, however, members can also seek the mentorship of their own will. Engineering managers and developers can also seek mentorship from top executives within the company.

Following the 10 Principles of Growth as an Engineer

Dan Heller, a former Uber Amsterdam engineer who relocated to work at the San Francisco HQ, developed the 10 Principles of Growth as Engineer. This document serves as a guidebook that Uber employees utilize to support their growth within the company and as an engineer overall. The principles include:

• Reason about the business value
• Unblock yourself
• Take initiative
• Improve your writing
• Own project management
• Own your education
• Master your tools
• Communicate proactively
• Find opportunities to collaborate
• Be professional and reliable

Continuous Opportunity to Learn Architecture

Engineers at Uber gain insight into other areas of the company outside of their direct group. Each engineering team draws out its project design. These designs are then made available to engineers across the board. They get to check, assess and scrutinize the design as they see fit. Corrections are made and teams get to improve on their architectural ability. It also promotes transparency across the organization, as all engineers are able to see the company from a more holistic perspective.

Why Uber Succeeds in Engineering Management

Hiring Engineering Managers with Expertise

Engineering managers at Uber are experts in their field of work. This is required to properly understand the work that the team might be doing. In addition to technical skills, they also have many soft skills necessary to be an effective manager. They are knowledgeable and always ready to seek more knowledge in the rapidly changing engineering field.

Prioritizing Effective Communication and Recognition

Communication within every group and organization is important. Constructive criticism must be applied by managers whenever it is needed. This is especially important in engineering management. In addition to effective communication, Uber supervisors are willing to commend employees on positive work and provide corrections when necessary. Exemplary employees are publicly recognized, motivating both them and their peers to work harder and setting an example for the type of work they should be doing. To maintain and improve morale, it is important that the hard work of engineers doesn’t go unnoticed.

Encourage a Motivating Atmosphere

Engineer managers at Uber motivate their teams to be better day after day. They are individuals who are ready to put in the time and effort necessary to achieve the goals of their team and organization. The best managers inspire others and are considered role models by other employees within the firm. A certain level of self-confidence is also necessary to lead engineering teams towards success.

Final Thoughts

Effective engineering management is not simple but is possible with the right people and strategies. Uber’s Amsterdam office is a prime example of a firm, and specifically, a regional office that prioritizes engineering management in order to develop the best possible product for its consumers. When creating an engineering management plan, consider Uber Amsterdam as a prime example of an organization that does it correctly.