S2 #10 Kevin Liu
Building Through Different Tech-Eras: Kevin Liu on Engineering, Management, and Startup Life
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Kevin Liu, Engineering Lead at AngelList and a seasoned builder in the tech industry. Kevin's career spans multiple eras of tech, from the post-dot-com bust to the rise of social media, and now into the AI-driven present. Kevin's journey is a masterclass in balancing technical expertise with leadership. I urge you to listen to the episode because his insights are invaluable for anyone navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape.
But, in case you prefer text over audio, here's a quick glimpse into the key insights from the episode:
Staying Hands-On as a Leader
During our conversation, Kevin shared how he's always been drawn to building products, whether as an individual contributor or as a manager. He emphasized that even in leadership positions, he never lost touch with the hands-on work of coding and product development. He calls this the "coach-player" style of leadership and emphasized that it allows him to stay sharp technically while also leading and mentoring his team.
And that also emerged in the advice he shared for engineers moving into management: "Don't let go of your technical skills. You need reps, you need practice to stay sharp," he said. He believes that staying technically proficient not only makes you a better leader but also helps you empathize with your team and understand the challenges they face.
Career Growth Is Not a Straight Line
Kevin's career trajectory saw him go from writing ColdFusion and fixing office printers to leading engineering teams at Klout and Nextdoor - a path that was defined by curiosity and adaptability. For example, at Nextdoor, he joined as a Director but started by writing code because the team was so small. Over time, he built and managed multiple teams, proving that titles don't always define your role or impact.
Kevin's takeaway? Don't get too hung up on titles or traditional career ladders. "Your career is not a line," he said. "As long as you're growing, you're good." Whether you're an early-career engineer or a seasoned leader, the key is to focus on learning, expanding your skill set, and finding roles that energize you.
AI As A Productivity Booster For Engineers
Kevin's been in the tech industry for decades. He saw the dot-com bust happen while he was a grad student, participated in the Web 2.0 revolution, and is actively monitoring the current iteration powered by AI. At AngelList, he uses AI-powered tools like Cursor to streamline his workflow, from generating boilerplate code to answering technical questions.
Kevin's perspective on AI is pragmatic. He sees it as a "power tool" that can make engineers more efficient, but he also cautioned that it's not a replacement for deep technical knowledge. "If you don't know what you're doing, AI can slow you down," he said.
Early-Stage Companies Are a Goldmine for Growth
Kevin's career has been deeply rooted in startups, from Klout to Nextdoor to AngelList. He strongly advocates joining early-stage companies, especially for engineers early in their careers. "If the company is growing, you're growing," he said.
His reasoning is simple: Startups offer a unique opportunity to wear multiple hats, learn about different aspects of the business, and take on responsibilities that might take years to encounter at a larger company. "Your job is to expand your optionality," he said.
Closing Thoughts
Kevin's journey is a testament to the power of adaptability and continuous learning. Whether you're an engineer, a manager, or somewhere in-between, his story reminds us that the tech industry rewards those who are willing to embrace change, stay curious, and keep building.
If you're interested in connecting with Kevin or exploring opportunities at AngelList, you can find him on LinkedIn. And if you're thinking about joining a startup or navigating your own career in tech, take a page from Kevin's book: focus on growth, stay hands-on, and don't be afraid to take the road less traveled!
Until next time, keep building!
About Us:
1st10 was founded on the simple philosophy that there is nothing more important to the success of your startup than the first ten engineers you hire. Because the first ten will impact the next ten and any wrong misstep can be the difference between success and failure. 1st10 works with visionary founders and exceptional engineers to build world class engineering teams.
1st10 was founded by Boris Epstein, original founder of Binc, the firm best known for pioneering embedded recruiting in Silicon Valley. Binc built early teams for Pinterest, Ripple, Stripe, Square, Airbnb, Reddit, Tesla and many more. Binc was acquired by Robinhood in 2021.