Scaling an engineering team: From generalists to specialists

Scaling an engineering team effectively is a journey that many startups embark upon as their product matures and user base expands. At the onset, most companies favor a lean approach, focusing on flexibility and broad skill sets. Initially, these teams often comprise generalists, or a very narrow set of specialists: backend and frontend software developers. This initial set of talented jacks-of-all-trades can jump between different areas of backend and frontend, handling whatever the product demands at any given time.

In the early stages of a startup, the primary motivation for hiring generalists is to maximize coverage across the entire product. There’s a kind of necessity in this multiplexing method where the team's focus shifts from one feature to the next depending on priority. One month, the team might concentrate on building robust authentication systems; the next month, they might pivot to enhancing data storage solutions or streamlining user interfaces. This flexibility allows a young company to adapt quickly and address immediate needs without the overhead of too many specialized roles.

As the startup grows and its operations stabilize, so too does its strategic focus. Investment areas become more thematic and predictable, paving the way for the development of long-lived, stable teams. This evolution marks a shift from a dynamic, ever-changing team structure to one where the composition of the team and the nature of the work become more stable.

With this stability, the need for specialized skills becomes more apparent. For example, as the product's user base grows, security might become an area of paramount concern and requiring continuous investments that can no longer be managed on the side by a backend developer with a passing interest in cybersecurity. Instead, there arises a need to form a dedicated security team, staffed by experts in fields such as cryptography, authentication, and authorization. This team will not only address immediate security concerns but also devise long-term strategies to safeguard user data and comply with increasing regulatory requirements.

This specialization extends beyond security. A mature product might need dedicated teams for data analytics, user experience design, and mobile development, each staffed by individuals who bring depth in their respective areas of expertise. This depth allows for greater innovation and refinement within each domain, driving the product forward in ways that a team of generalists might not be equipped to manage.

Moreover, the transition from a generalist to a specialist team structure also influences hiring strategies and organizational culture. Leaders must recalibrate their approach to recruitment, focusing on deep expertise rather than broad abilities. They also need to foster an environment where specialists can thrive, which often means implementing more structured processes and clearer communication channels.

The transition is illustrated in the diagram below. Initially, the team is small an comprised of generalists developers. The team might also have a few specialists, most typically front-end software developers. The first scaling moment, sees the team expand yet maintain a similar composition. The team is still comprised of generalists, but there are more of them. Next comes, the second scaling moment which sees the introduction of specialists. Those could be completely new skills that are introduced to the team like data scientists. They could also be individuals with deep domain expertise in areas the team needs. That second moment results in the emergence of long-lived and stable teams, reflecting the growth and maturity of the startup relative to its earliest days.

In conclusion, the evolution from generalist teams to specialized ones is a critical phase in the scaling of engineering teams within growing startups. This transition reflects the company’s maturation from a flexible, fast-moving startup to a more established player with specific needs and focused goals. The move not only enhances the capacity to innovate within specific domains but also aligns the engineering team’s structure with the company's long-term strategic objectives, ultimately contributing to sustained growth and success.