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The Disappearing Technical Lead 🕵️‍♂️

· 3 min read
Lex Lutor Iyornumbe
Lex Lutor Iyornumbe
Senior Software Developer @ Punch Agency

🎙 "You unlock this door with the key of miscommunication. Beyond it lies another dimension... a dimension of frustration, a dimension of pressure, a dimension of burnout. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of overloaded engineers and missing leadership. You’ve just crossed over... into Code War Stories."

Today’s tale comes courtesy of Jeff—a hardworking backend/DevOps engineer caught in a three-developer team, balancing API endpoints, Swagger docs, AI agents, and maybe the entire weight of the server room.

But Jeff’s not just coding. He’s also managing expectations. Not from a fellow engineer, but from a Tech Lead who leads not with architecture or insight, but with one eternal question:

"When is Feature A ready?"

🕵️‍♂️ Let’s investigate the curious case of The Disappearing Technical Lead.

The Setup: One Engineer, Two Hats, Infinite Scope​

Jeff, the one-man backend army, is building a sophisticated system: AI integration, DevOps duties, Swagger docs... oh, and REST APIs, too. His teammates? Two frontend devs. His lead? A PM in disguise.

You see, in this episode of Dev War Stories, our Tech Lead wears a badge but not the armor.

He speaks of deadlines, not design.

He demands output, not insight.

He walks into meetings asking, "How soon?" but leaves before hearing, "Here’s what it takes."

The Real Problem: Leadership Void​

Let’s be clear, Jeff’s frustration isn’t just emotional—it’s structural. His lead is playing two roles:

  • As Project Manager, it’s okay to ask about timelines.
  • But as Tech Lead? That title comes with responsibilities: architecture, system design, technical mentorship, and removing roadblocks.

When a Tech Lead is non-technical, the team loses more than guidance. They lose context, credibility, and support.

Enter: The Pragmatist’s Toolkit​

Jeff, here’s how you fight back—professionally and effectively.

🧱 1. Build the Visual Truth​

Create a task matrix:

  • List everything you’re doing
  • Break it down by time estimate
  • Include buffers for testing, unknowns, and context-switching

Present this as your reality—not a complaint, but a blueprint. Show them the scale of what they’re asking.

🧠 2. Educate with Metaphor​

When you get the dreaded "how soon," respond like this:

"Think of this feature as a factory. Before we start moving boxes, we must build conveyor belts, design quality checks, and test packaging. That’s not fast—but it’s necessary."

Use language they can connect with.

🔄 3. Offer Trade-offs, Not Resistance​

Leaders don’t like problems. They love decisions. Say:

"To finish Feature A by end of sprint, I need to pause Feature B. Or we bring in another backend dev. Which is the priority?"

Make them choose. It reframes the conversation.

🧘‍♂️ 4. Set Boundaries​

Protect your sanity. Create blocks of "focus time." Communicate your availability. Don’t martyr yourself to please unrealistic asks.

"I'll be heads-down 9 AM–1 PM. I’ll check in after for quick syncs."

🤝 5. Seek Allies and Document​

If you're continuously overextended, loop in Product or Design. Explain the tech trade-offs in terms they care about: user experience and delivery risk. Keep a paper trail.

And if things don’t change? Document. Escalate. Protect your career.

A Final Word on Respect​

It’s not arrogance to expect competence. It’s professional necessity.

Respect in tech isn’t inherited with a title—it’s earned through:

  • Technical clarity
  • Realistic planning
  • Team protection
  • Technical ability & acumen

So no—you’re not wrong to expect a Tech Lead to be technical. Without that, it’s just a title. And your team? They deserve more than just a title.