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Peter Cepeda

Why I Left Management to Become an Individual Contributor Again

Why I Left Management to Become an Individual Contributor Again

I stepped away from management to reclaim focus, autonomy, and impact. Endless meetings, misaligned priorities, and compromised values made it clear: I could do more—and feel better—by going back to what I love most—building.

🚢 What OceanGate Taught Me About Product Management

🚢 What OceanGate Taught Me About Product Management

The implosion of OceanGate’s sub isn’t just a failure of engineering—it’s a failure of culture. In product development, dissent is a safety feature. Here’s what we can learn from building recklessly and silencing challenge.

🧠 Decide, Then Delegate: The Pitfalls of Playing Engineer as a Manager

🧠 Decide, Then Delegate: The Pitfalls of Playing Engineer as a Manager

Too many engineering managers never let go of their contributor roots—and it shows. If you’re still doing your team’s job, you’re probably not doing yours. Here’s how to recognize the common traps and make the shift from coder to coach.

You Know Systems. Use That Knowledge to Manage People Better. 🧠👥

You Know Systems. Use That Knowledge to Manage People Better. 🧠👥

You know how to build systems. Now build a team the same way—clear roles, clean interfaces, no bottlenecks, and trust in the process. Lead like an engineer who never forgot how systems actually work.

Principles I Live By as a Software Engineer

Principles I Live By as a Software Engineer

A collection of hard-earned principles that guide how I build, lead, and grow as a software engineer. Less fluff, more clarity—these values keep me focused, honest, and effective in a world that moves fast and breaks everything.