Hands On, Heads Up: Why Tech Managers Need to Stay Close to the Code

At Pair People, we’ve worked with dozens of scale-ups navigating the chaos of growth, headcount doubling, roadmaps stretching, tech debt groaning. And if there’s one theme we keep hearing from founders, it’s this: we need technical leaders who still roll up their sleeves.

Gone are the days when engineering managers could float five layers above the sprint board, popping in for 1:1s and strategy slides. Today’s scale-up environment demands something different, technical managers who can lead and ship. Who can run a retro, and then jump into a pull request. Who pair on problems, not just performance reviews.

Here’s why.

Trust Is Earned in the Codebase

In early-stage teams, engineers don’t need a boss, they need a battle buddy. Someone who understands the stack, can unblock them fast, and earns credibility not from hierarchy, but from hands-on help. When tech managers stay technical, they build trust the right way: through shared problem solving, not top-down direction.

Speed Matters—and So Does Context

Scale-ups live and die by speed. But speed without technical context is risky. Managers who stay close to the code are better at:

• Spotting blockers before they escalate

• Prioritising the right debt to pay down

• Protecting quality while keeping things moving

Being in the weeds means you make better calls when it really counts.

Coaching Comes from Doing, Not Delegating

Want to grow a junior dev fast? Pair with them. Review their code. Help them write a test instead of just saying "add one." When leaders stay hands-on, they model how to solve problems. They coach in real-time. They create a culture where learning is active, not just a Notion doc on engineering principles.

It’s Not Forever: But It Matters Now

To be clear: we’re not saying your Head of Engineering should be smashing out tickets like it’s 2015. As teams mature, the focus should shift. But in the scale-up phase, when the team is lean and the stakes are high, staying hands-on isn’t just helpful, it’s critical.

Think of it like a relay. Sometimes, the best thing a tech leader can do is run alongside the team for a lap, not just cheer from the sidelines.

The Pair People Perspective

We help founders find engineering leaders who don’t just manage—they mentor, model, and muck in. People who lead with empathy, code with context, and know when to step back and when to step up. So if you’re hiring your next tech lead, ask this:Are they someone your team would actually want to pair with?

Because at this stage, leadership doesn’t mean leaving the codebase. It means showing up inside it, with purpose, humility, and sleeves already rolled.

Want help finding that kind of leader?That’s exactly what we do. Pair early, build better.