Software Engineer vs Product Engineer

Have you heard the term “product engineer“? Perhaps you think it’s just another technical term in our daily lives or that it’s simply another way of saying “developer.”

To give you a spoiler: nowadays, with the market full of qualified professionals, it’s very likely that we, as developers, are already playing the role of a product engineer, especially the more senior developers. Still, I will show you some differences/characteristics of each to better understand.

The objective of the software engineer and the product engineer is the same: to create and develop a product. However, they have some different activities in their daily work.

For example, the software engineer focuses on developing the code based on the business rules that are passed to them. On the other hand, the product engineer focuses on solving product issues, understanding features and other characteristics, and always working and communicating with the product owner.

Some software engineers only write the code, finish their part, and pass it on to the next part or to another team, like the QA team. On the flip side, product engineers also dedicate themselves to writing automated tests and work hard to improve the quality of the product.

While software engineers typically do not deal with production issues, product engineers not only handle these problems but also notify the team about the issue and help find solutions.

The software engineer essentially focuses on writing code and making functionalities operational. The idea is to develop and make it work. The product engineer, as mentioned before, has a more refined view of the product. They take steps to make it better and improve the development process.

So, is the product engineer a developer with a sharper eye for the product? Yes, they also develop code, but with an extra touch: they write tests, help their colleagues with the next task, whether by assisting QA or discussing points with the UX designer, always focusing on improving the product, identifying problems, and proposing enhancements.

Basically, the comparison between the two is not about technical skills, but about the impact each brings to the team. Writing code is just a tool; the goal is to deliver value.

The truth is that the software world has evolved (a lot) compared to recent years. Before, developers just wrote code and that was it. Today, effective communication is necessary, interacting with team members like QA, UX, product owner, and other devs, participating in technical refinements, helping the product owner validate some demands, and so on.

In my view, learning and developing the characteristics of a product engineer makes you a better developer and a more valuable member of the team.

A practical example would be a software engineer who received the task of implementing a login and authentication functionality, developed the code according to the rules passed to them. Meanwhile, a product engineer, besides developing this functionality, would probably question if the solution is the most efficient, discuss possible enhancements with the product owner regarding user experience, and validate the impact of this feature on the overall product behavior.

The product engineer not only delves into the technical aspects but also develops knowledge in areas such as UX/UI and the product’s market impact. These complementary skills make them capable of contributing more comprehensively to the product’s success.

In environments that use agile methodologies, the role of the product engineer becomes even more relevant, as constant value delivery requires the team to always be aligned and focused on improving the product.

With the evolution of our technology market and the complexity of the products we create, the trend is for developers to increasingly assume the characteristics of product engineers. The market is becoming more demanding regarding the impact and value that technology professionals bring to the product.

Well, that’s it! If you already play the role of a product engineer in your team, congratulations! You are a professional who likely delivers a lot of value to the team. If you are not yet playing the role of a product engineer, just start. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, be humble, and ask for help to better understand the product rules. And, of course, never stop studying.