“Hey Zach, I’ve been in my current role for 4 years now and I’m starting to question what’s next. How do I figure out the right move from here?”
That question came up in one of our Blueprint Q&A sessions—and it’s way more common than you might think.
And it’s a good question—because winging it at this stage won’t cut it. If you’ve been grinding for years and still don’t have a clear path forward, you’re not alone… but it also means it’s time to upgrade your strategy.
Here’s what the most successful (and fulfilled) engineering leaders do differently when it’s time to make their next move.
The 7 Insights Successful & Fulfilled Engineering Leaders Use to Crack Their Next Career Move
#1 – Clarity Beats Certainty
The #1 reason engineering leaders get stuck isn’t lack of talent or hard work – it’s lack of clarity. You can’t move forward without a vision of where you want to go. Stop waiting for perfect certainty and define what “success” looks like for you. Once you have that compass, every decision and next step becomes easier and more confident.
#2 – Dare to Be Dissatisfied
Don’t settle for a “good enough” job if you know you’re meant for more. Zach often reminds his clients to dare to be dissatisfied – use that itch for greater impact as fuel, not frustration. It takes courage to admit you want a bigger challenge or a promotion, but that honest dissatisfaction sparks bold action. Just remember to never become ungrateful – gratitude is the balancing force that keeps your ambition positive.
#3 – Crush Comfort, Create Courage
Comfort is a terrible decision metric in your career. If you’ve been in the same role for years, recognize that staying in your comfort zone might be what’s holding you back. Successful engineering leaders deliberately do the hard things – they have the courage to take on new responsibilities, roles, or projects even when it feels scary. Every time you crush a comfort zone limitation, you grow, and new career opportunities open up that complacency would never allow.
#4 – Success Loves Speed
Inaction feeds stagnation. The most fulfilled leaders don’t overthink every move – they execute. Success loves speed, so even a small step forward today is better than endless planning. Take action on your next career move immediately (reach out to that mentor, apply for that role, start that project) and get your career flywheel spinning. Momentum builds confidence: do the next right thing now, learn from it, and keep accelerating rather than standing still.
#5 – Proximity is Power
Don’t go it alone. Surround yourself with people who push you to grow. This means finding mentors, coaches, or a community of ambitious peers (like The Happy Engineer Podcast community) who will hold you accountable and share hard-won lessons. When you’re in the company of high-performers, their mindset and habits rub off on you. That accountability and support will energize you, keep you on track, and elevate your standards beyond what you’d achieve solo.
#6 – Less But Better
Being busy is not the same as being effective. Average engineers try to do it all and end up burned out; successful engineers focus on the highest-value tasks. Shift from an individual contributor mindset to a leadership mindset – work smarter, not harder. Identify the critical few projects that truly move the needle and double down on those. Say “no” or delegate the rest. By doing less but better, you’ll not only prevent burnout, you’ll start getting noticed for the impact you make rather than the hours you log.
#7 – Life by Design, Not by Default
Remember that your career is part of a bigger system – your life. The happiest engineering leaders design their career moves to align with their personal values and goals. Zach’s Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint is built on this principle: it’s more than a career plan, it’s about building the life you want for yourself. So get clear on your non-negotiables (family, health, freedom, passion projects) and engineer your next career step to serve those. When you treat your career like an engineering problem, you stop drifting through “opportunities” and start directing your path. The result? Not just a new title, but a balanced, fulfilling life and career you’re truly excited about.
By applying these 7 insights, you can stop second-guessing your next move and start creating real momentum in your career—on your terms.
👉 If you’re ready to take ownership of your direction and make this your breakthrough year, send me a DM. I’d be happy to talk about how we can support you.
References – Exact episodes where this advice appears:
163: The Secret of Escaping Stagnation at Work
193: Here’s a Quick Way to Jumpstart a Stagnant Engineering Career
179: Beware the Lazy Engineer’s Way to Promotion
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