A framework for developing effective Tech Leads in product teams
This model defines the key competencies that a Tech Lead needs to be effective in product teams, organized into 4 pillars and 5 main competencies.
The pillars are the foundations of the model. Each pillar groups related competencies that the Tech Lead needs to develop.
Pillars represent fundamental areas. Competencies are specific skills within each pillar.
Understanding problems deeply before designing solutions. The Tech Lead brings unique technical perspective to discovery: detects opportunities for technological innovation, identifies constraints others don't see, and validates feasibility early.
This competency evaluates your participation in discovery activities, your understanding of user problems, and your ability to use data to inform product decisions.
Building solutions that work and deliver value. It's not just about "shipping code" but executing with excellence: minimizing risk, maximizing learning, and delivering incrementally.
This competency evaluates your ability to balance discovery and delivery, allocate time for technical debt reduction, and participate in product decisions.
The technical foundation that enables everything else. Without technical excellence, the Tech Lead loses credibility and ability to contribute. This pillar is foundational, not optional.
This competency evaluates your ability to think architecturally aligned with product, strategically manage technical debt, and build observable and reliable systems.
Multiplying impact through others. The Tech Lead doesn't scale by doing more — scales by enabling the team, removing blockers, and creating context for others to make good decisions.
This competency evaluates your ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences, collaborate with stakeholders, and document effectively.
This competency evaluates your ability to develop others, delegate effectively, and resolve technical conflicts in the team.
This framework is designed for Tech Leads in product teams (Product Trios). It does not include progression by levels (Junior → Senior → Staff → Principal) to maintain simplicity. In practice, the expectation of each competency scales with seniority. It is complementary, not a substitute for frameworks like SVPG (principles), Continuous Discovery Habits (methods), or Staff Engineer (career path). It assumes an empowered team context where the Tech Lead has real agency over what to build, not just how.