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Also known as: TL, technical lead, team lead

Tech Lead

ConceptualRolesProduct

Definition

Tech Lead: A Tech Lead provides technical leadership for a team or project—setting technical direction, making architectural decisions, mentoring engineers, and ensuring code quality. Unlike engineering managers who focus on people, tech leads focus on technical excellence. Some organizations combine the roles; others separate them.

Example Usage

“Our tech lead owns architectural decisions and code review standards. The EM handles people; they partner on team health and delivery.”

Common Misconceptions

Tech lead is a step toward management. It's a technical leadership track; some prefer staying technical.
Tech leads do the most coding. They may code less, focusing on reviews, architecture, and enabling others.
Tech lead authority comes from title. Influence comes from technical credibility and helping the team succeed.

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