Tech Lead
ELI5 — The Vibe Check
The developer who got promoted into having opinions about architecture AND managing people. They still write code (hopefully), but also attend more meetings, review more PRs, and decide which tech stack the team uses. It's the first rung on the leadership ladder where you realize meetings are the real boss fight.
Real Talk
A tech lead is a senior developer responsible for technical direction of a team or project. They make architecture decisions, mentor junior developers, coordinate with product management, and often serve as the bridge between engineering and business. The role varies significantly between organizations.
When You'll Hear This
"Ask the tech lead which approach we should use." / "Being a tech lead means less coding and more diagrams."
Related Terms
Architecture
Architecture is the master blueprint for your app — like deciding whether to build a house, apartment block, or skyscraper before laying a single brick.
Code Review
A code review is when another developer reads your code before it gets merged, looking for bugs, bad practices, or anything confusing.
CTO (Chief Technology Officer)
The person who gets blamed when the technology doesn't work.
Staff Engineer
The senior developer who chose to stay technical instead of becoming a manager.