# 330: I Just Want a Dog

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2020-05-14
- Length: 56m
- Episode: 330
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-05-14-330-i-just-want-a-dog
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/330-i-just-want-a-dog

## Summary

Chris Svec, an embedded software engineering manager at iRobot, discusses his transition from individual contributor to management, his leadership philosophy centered on autonomy and mastery, and the challenges of managing a remote team during the pandemic. He shares insights on working from home, including advice given to Purdue students, and details the logistical realities of engineers bringing test equipment like oscilloscopes and robots home. Svec also recommends several management books and highlights open positions for Associate and Principal Software Engineers on his team.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-05-14-330-i-just-want-a-dog#t=6) Introduction and Lightning Round
- [4:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-05-14-330-i-just-want-a-dog#t=295) Transition to Management at iRobot
- [7:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-05-14-330-i-just-want-a-dog#t=447) Management Philosophy and Book Recommendations
- [20:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-05-14-330-i-just-want-a-dog#t=1222) Managing Remote Teams and Hardware Logistics
- [32:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-05-14-330-i-just-want-a-dog#t=1933) Remote One-on-Ones and Communication
- [47:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-05-14-330-i-just-want-a-dog#t=2844) Advice for Purdue Students and Hiring

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- iRobot (company)
- Jira (tool)
- Zoom (tool)
- Slack (company)
- Fitbit (company)
- Purdue University (other)
- Drive (other)
- The Manager's Path (other)
- Resilient Management (other)
- The Mythical Man-Month (other)
- Managing Humans (other)
- How to Win Friends and Influence People (other)
- Absolutely Remarkable Thing (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S1E22 Being a GENUINE engineer/leader | Rob Newsom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-07-17-s1e22-being-a-genuine-engineer-leader-rob-newsom) (Being an Engineer)
- [Managing in a Pandemic | Intel: Meet The New Boss | Arm @ 30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-01-22-managing-in-a-pandemic-intel-meet-the-new-boss-arm-30) (EE Times Current)
- [CES 2019 Special: Interview with Chris Jones, CTO at iRobot](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-01-12-ces-2019-special-interview-with-chris-jones-cto-at-irobot) (EE Times Current)
- [EMS@C-LEVEL Season #1 Episode #2 with Creative Electron's Dr. Bill Cardoso](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2020-08-07-ems-c-level-season-1-episode-2-with-creative-electrons-dr-bill-cardoso) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [S2E31 How to Lead Engineers & Engineering Managers – Chris McKenzie](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-07-16-s2e31-how-to-lead-engineers-engineering-managers-chris-mckenzie) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-05-14-330-i-just-want-a-dog. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.