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Tech Lead
Also written as Technical Lead, Lead Engineer, TL
The engineer accountable for a team's technical direction and delivery — usually without direct reports. Frequently confused with Engineering Manager, which is a people-management job.
Think of it like
Like the lead violinist in an orchestra: sets the standard and coordinates the section, but doesn't do their performance reviews.
Junior or senior?
Junior sounds like
The most experienced person on a small team by default.
Senior sounds like
Describes deliberate delegation and decisions they let others make differently from how they would have.
Ask them
“What did you delegate that you'd have done differently yourself, and how did you handle it?”