6 answers
Arjun
Student
Lincoln, Nebraska
1
Question
Asked
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How do software engineers collaborate with other roles, such as product managers, designers, and QA testers, throughout the software development process #Spring25?
I am also interested in knowing how this differs in startup environments from big companies. #Spring25
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6 answers
Rajesh Kumar Subbiah
Manager
55
Answers
Florham Park, New Jersey
Updated
Rajesh Kumar’s Answer
Software engineers work closely with product managers, designers, quality assurance (QA) testers, and other teams to build and improve software. Collaboration happens at every stage of development, from planning to deployment. Here's how they work together:
1. Collaboration Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle
Planning & Requirement Gathering (Before Coding Starts):
Software engineers collaborate with product managers, designers, and business analysts to define project goals and business needs. Engineers provide feedback on what’s technically feasible, ensuring that proposed features can be implemented within time and budget constraints. They also review wireframes and UI/UX designs to ensure they align with system capabilities.
For example, a product manager might propose a new feature that takes six months to build, and engineers may suggest a simpler version that can be developed in two months.
Design & Prototyping:
Software engineers work closely with designers and product managers during this stage. UI/UX designers create wireframes and prototypes, while engineers review them to check for feasibility and performance concerns. Frontend and backend engineers collaborate to define how APIs and data models will work together.
For example, a designer may suggest a complex animation, but engineers might propose a simpler alternative to maintain performance.
Development (Coding Phase):
Software engineers write code based on the agreed-upon designs and requirements. They work with other engineers, DevOps teams, and QA testers. Agile development methodologies, like sprints, help teams stay on track and continuously review progress. Code reviews are common, ensuring best practices are followed.
For example, the backend team may need to finalize API endpoints before the frontend team can integrate them, requiring frequent communication to avoid delays.
Testing & Quality Assurance:
QA testers play a major role in ensuring the software works as expected. Engineers work with testers to fix reported bugs before release. Developers write unit tests, while QA testers focus on integration and performance testing. Security engineers may also conduct security audits.
For example, if a QA tester finds a bug that breaks a feature, engineers collaborate with them to resolve and re-test it before launch.
Deployment & Monitoring:
Once development and testing are complete, engineers collaborate with DevOps teams to deploy the software. Monitoring tools help track system performance and detect issues post-launch. Engineers also assist customer support teams in troubleshooting user-reported problems.
For example, if a major bug is discovered after release, engineers analyze system logs, identify the root cause, and quickly push a fix.
Post-Launch & Maintenance:
After launch, engineers work with product managers and analysts to gather user feedback. This helps in identifying areas for improvement, optimizing performance, and planning future updates. Security updates and bug fixes continue as part of software maintenance.
For example, engineers might analyze user behavior data to determine whether a new feature is being used as intended.
2. Differences Between Startups and Big Companies
In a startup environment, engineers often wear multiple hats. They may be involved in design discussions, DevOps, and even customer support. Decision-making is fast, and engineers work closely with product managers and designers without many layers of approval. There is less structure, allowing for quick experimentation but also requiring adaptability.
For example, an engineer in a startup might build a feature and deploy it directly, whereas in a big company, this process would involve multiple reviews and approvals.
In big companies, roles are more specialized. Engineers typically focus on a specific area, such as frontend, backend, or security. Decision-making involves multiple stakeholders, including managers, architects, and legal teams. There is a stronger emphasis on documentation and structured workflows, ensuring scalability and stability.
For example, at companies like Google or Amazon, deploying a single feature might require extensive testing, security audits, and phased rollouts.
3. Key Differences Between Startups and Big Companies
In startups, software engineers often take on multiple responsibilities, whereas in big companies, engineers work in well-defined roles. Decision-making is faster in startups, allowing for rapid feature releases, while larger companies prioritize stability and scalability. Startups typically have minimal bureaucracy, whereas big companies have structured workflows with detailed documentation.
If you enjoy flexibility and wearing multiple hats, a startup might be a better fit. If you prefer structured growth and specialization, a big company may be more suitable. Mid-sized companies often provide a balance between both environments.
4. Final Thoughts
Software engineers play a central role in building products, collaborating with product managers, designers, QA testers, and DevOps teams throughout the development process. The way they work depends on the company size—startups offer more flexibility and speed, while big companies emphasize structure and specialization.
If you're interested in both business management and technology, you might also consider a Product Manager role, as it involves leadership, strategy, and software collaboration.
1. Collaboration Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle
Planning & Requirement Gathering (Before Coding Starts):
Software engineers collaborate with product managers, designers, and business analysts to define project goals and business needs. Engineers provide feedback on what’s technically feasible, ensuring that proposed features can be implemented within time and budget constraints. They also review wireframes and UI/UX designs to ensure they align with system capabilities.
For example, a product manager might propose a new feature that takes six months to build, and engineers may suggest a simpler version that can be developed in two months.
Design & Prototyping:
Software engineers work closely with designers and product managers during this stage. UI/UX designers create wireframes and prototypes, while engineers review them to check for feasibility and performance concerns. Frontend and backend engineers collaborate to define how APIs and data models will work together.
For example, a designer may suggest a complex animation, but engineers might propose a simpler alternative to maintain performance.
Development (Coding Phase):
Software engineers write code based on the agreed-upon designs and requirements. They work with other engineers, DevOps teams, and QA testers. Agile development methodologies, like sprints, help teams stay on track and continuously review progress. Code reviews are common, ensuring best practices are followed.
For example, the backend team may need to finalize API endpoints before the frontend team can integrate them, requiring frequent communication to avoid delays.
Testing & Quality Assurance:
QA testers play a major role in ensuring the software works as expected. Engineers work with testers to fix reported bugs before release. Developers write unit tests, while QA testers focus on integration and performance testing. Security engineers may also conduct security audits.
For example, if a QA tester finds a bug that breaks a feature, engineers collaborate with them to resolve and re-test it before launch.
Deployment & Monitoring:
Once development and testing are complete, engineers collaborate with DevOps teams to deploy the software. Monitoring tools help track system performance and detect issues post-launch. Engineers also assist customer support teams in troubleshooting user-reported problems.
For example, if a major bug is discovered after release, engineers analyze system logs, identify the root cause, and quickly push a fix.
Post-Launch & Maintenance:
After launch, engineers work with product managers and analysts to gather user feedback. This helps in identifying areas for improvement, optimizing performance, and planning future updates. Security updates and bug fixes continue as part of software maintenance.
For example, engineers might analyze user behavior data to determine whether a new feature is being used as intended.
2. Differences Between Startups and Big Companies
In a startup environment, engineers often wear multiple hats. They may be involved in design discussions, DevOps, and even customer support. Decision-making is fast, and engineers work closely with product managers and designers without many layers of approval. There is less structure, allowing for quick experimentation but also requiring adaptability.
For example, an engineer in a startup might build a feature and deploy it directly, whereas in a big company, this process would involve multiple reviews and approvals.
In big companies, roles are more specialized. Engineers typically focus on a specific area, such as frontend, backend, or security. Decision-making involves multiple stakeholders, including managers, architects, and legal teams. There is a stronger emphasis on documentation and structured workflows, ensuring scalability and stability.
For example, at companies like Google or Amazon, deploying a single feature might require extensive testing, security audits, and phased rollouts.
3. Key Differences Between Startups and Big Companies
In startups, software engineers often take on multiple responsibilities, whereas in big companies, engineers work in well-defined roles. Decision-making is faster in startups, allowing for rapid feature releases, while larger companies prioritize stability and scalability. Startups typically have minimal bureaucracy, whereas big companies have structured workflows with detailed documentation.
If you enjoy flexibility and wearing multiple hats, a startup might be a better fit. If you prefer structured growth and specialization, a big company may be more suitable. Mid-sized companies often provide a balance between both environments.
4. Final Thoughts
Software engineers play a central role in building products, collaborating with product managers, designers, QA testers, and DevOps teams throughout the development process. The way they work depends on the company size—startups offer more flexibility and speed, while big companies emphasize structure and specialization.
If you're interested in both business management and technology, you might also consider a Product Manager role, as it involves leadership, strategy, and software collaboration.
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1464
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Arjun! Great question, and a very relevant one as software engineering is a dynamic field.
1. Product Managers (PMs):
The Glue: Think of them as the project whisperers—they help keep the team on track, understanding the big picture and the why behind every feature.
How It Works: Software engineers and PMs often work closely to prioritize features based on user needs, market research, and technical feasibility. Engineers provide input on what’s technically possible and how long things might take, while PMs keep everything in line with business goals.
2. Designers:
Creative Wizards: Designers help make sure the product looks beautiful and is user-friendly.
How It Works: Engineers collaborate with designers to make sure the design is feasible and that the final product aligns with the design vision. There’s often a back-and-forth to make sure the product is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Think of it like making a cake—you want it to look great but also taste awesome when you dig in.
3. QA Testers:
The Safety Net: QA testers make sure the product is bug-free, like the safety harness at an amusement park.
How It Works: Once engineers develop a feature, QA testers will try to break it (nicely, of course). They run tests, find bugs, and let engineers know what needs fixing. Communication is key here because engineers need to quickly address bugs without derailing the whole process.
Startups vs Big Companies:
Startups:
Everyone Wears Multiple Hats: At a startup, engineers typically work closely with all the roles—PMs, designers, QA testers, etc. The team is usually smaller, so you’re likely doing more hands-on work across the board. You might also have more freedom to experiment and shape the direction of the product.
Fast-Paced & Flexible: Startups can move fast, and priorities can shift on a dime. You may be building a feature one day, and the next, you’re redesigning it because the market has shifted. It’s the wild west, but with great opportunity.
Big Companies:
Clearer Roles: In larger companies, roles tend to be more specialized. Engineers focus primarily on coding, while PMs steer the ship, and designers focus on user experience.
Structured Processes: There’s usually more red tape and a clearer workflow. You might not have as much influence on the product direction as in a startup, but you’ll often have more resources at your disposal to build things on a larger scale.
Bonus Humor from my side.
Startups are like a rollercoaster—fast, exhilarating, and terrifying, all at the same time. Big companies? They’re like an amusement park—lots of waiting in line, but you know that once you get on the ride, everything works exactly as expected... until a software update comes along.
Keep that sense of humor intact, Arjun, whether you’re in a startup or a big corporation, because as much as software engineering is about solving problems, it’s also about dealing with the chaos—and having a good laugh along the way. 😎
Good luck.
1. Product Managers (PMs):
The Glue: Think of them as the project whisperers—they help keep the team on track, understanding the big picture and the why behind every feature.
How It Works: Software engineers and PMs often work closely to prioritize features based on user needs, market research, and technical feasibility. Engineers provide input on what’s technically possible and how long things might take, while PMs keep everything in line with business goals.
2. Designers:
Creative Wizards: Designers help make sure the product looks beautiful and is user-friendly.
How It Works: Engineers collaborate with designers to make sure the design is feasible and that the final product aligns with the design vision. There’s often a back-and-forth to make sure the product is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Think of it like making a cake—you want it to look great but also taste awesome when you dig in.
3. QA Testers:
The Safety Net: QA testers make sure the product is bug-free, like the safety harness at an amusement park.
How It Works: Once engineers develop a feature, QA testers will try to break it (nicely, of course). They run tests, find bugs, and let engineers know what needs fixing. Communication is key here because engineers need to quickly address bugs without derailing the whole process.
Startups vs Big Companies:
Startups:
Everyone Wears Multiple Hats: At a startup, engineers typically work closely with all the roles—PMs, designers, QA testers, etc. The team is usually smaller, so you’re likely doing more hands-on work across the board. You might also have more freedom to experiment and shape the direction of the product.
Fast-Paced & Flexible: Startups can move fast, and priorities can shift on a dime. You may be building a feature one day, and the next, you’re redesigning it because the market has shifted. It’s the wild west, but with great opportunity.
Big Companies:
Clearer Roles: In larger companies, roles tend to be more specialized. Engineers focus primarily on coding, while PMs steer the ship, and designers focus on user experience.
Structured Processes: There’s usually more red tape and a clearer workflow. You might not have as much influence on the product direction as in a startup, but you’ll often have more resources at your disposal to build things on a larger scale.
Bonus Humor from my side.
Startups are like a rollercoaster—fast, exhilarating, and terrifying, all at the same time. Big companies? They’re like an amusement park—lots of waiting in line, but you know that once you get on the ride, everything works exactly as expected... until a software update comes along.
Keep that sense of humor intact, Arjun, whether you’re in a startup or a big corporation, because as much as software engineering is about solving problems, it’s also about dealing with the chaos—and having a good laugh along the way. 😎
Good luck.
Moya Watson
Technical Writer
1
Answer
San Francisco, California
Updated
Moya’s Answer
Hi Arjun!
I've worked in small and large companies. In my experience, it differs from company to company. As a generalization, it's easier to collaborate cross-functionally and across teams at smaller startups than it is at gigantic organizations, which can be more siloed. But this is a great question because I believe collaboration is key to any successful product, so I'm glad you asked it! I've enjoyed working cross-functionally, and well run teams will be inclusive during software development. I've sat in rooms where a member of each function is present during the process -- from engineering, to QA, to tech support, to product managers, to writers, and beyond -- and it's really rewarding. However, this doesn't mean large companies have to be siloed and lonely in this way. A good team lead will break into other organizations outside just their own - - and if you find yourself in a siloed organization, you can make time to go for lunch or coffee with people doing different kinds of work, and even sign up and attend other meetings.
Best of luck for an exciting career!
I've worked in small and large companies. In my experience, it differs from company to company. As a generalization, it's easier to collaborate cross-functionally and across teams at smaller startups than it is at gigantic organizations, which can be more siloed. But this is a great question because I believe collaboration is key to any successful product, so I'm glad you asked it! I've enjoyed working cross-functionally, and well run teams will be inclusive during software development. I've sat in rooms where a member of each function is present during the process -- from engineering, to QA, to tech support, to product managers, to writers, and beyond -- and it's really rewarding. However, this doesn't mean large companies have to be siloed and lonely in this way. A good team lead will break into other organizations outside just their own - - and if you find yourself in a siloed organization, you can make time to go for lunch or coffee with people doing different kinds of work, and even sign up and attend other meetings.
Best of luck for an exciting career!
Tiffany Getch
Senior Product Manager
2
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Tiffany’s Answer
Hi Arjun!
I'm a Product Manager at a large-sized company (Salesforce) and I work in our Digital Enterprise Technology org; effectively, I build features for our internal Salesforce employees in the Professional Services organization.
In my role here, I work with Engineers on a near-daily basis. I have a lead engineer that works as my right hand; I'm typically working ahead to understand where the product needs to go in the future and what needs to be built. The lead Engineer partners with me so that whatever solution we propose is based on reality and feasible to deliver. We partner from idea to test case to deliver value to our business.
When it comes to the other roles (UX, QA, Release Management) the Engineering team plays a huge role here as well. If Product is responsible for defining the 'what', Engineering is on the hook for the 'how'. I rely on Engineering to ensure that what we're building has quality baked into everything, that we're striving for automation in our testing wherever possible, and that we're actively resolving tech debt.
That being said, I have seen teams and organizations where an Engineer can be viewed as an order taker. You're handed a list of things to do and told 'go build these'. It exists out there, and it can be hard to spot when you're getting started. Based on this question, you're already asking the right things- understanding the level of value your company places on the technical team will help inform which player you'll get to be.
Best of luck!
I'm a Product Manager at a large-sized company (Salesforce) and I work in our Digital Enterprise Technology org; effectively, I build features for our internal Salesforce employees in the Professional Services organization.
In my role here, I work with Engineers on a near-daily basis. I have a lead engineer that works as my right hand; I'm typically working ahead to understand where the product needs to go in the future and what needs to be built. The lead Engineer partners with me so that whatever solution we propose is based on reality and feasible to deliver. We partner from idea to test case to deliver value to our business.
When it comes to the other roles (UX, QA, Release Management) the Engineering team plays a huge role here as well. If Product is responsible for defining the 'what', Engineering is on the hook for the 'how'. I rely on Engineering to ensure that what we're building has quality baked into everything, that we're striving for automation in our testing wherever possible, and that we're actively resolving tech debt.
That being said, I have seen teams and organizations where an Engineer can be viewed as an order taker. You're handed a list of things to do and told 'go build these'. It exists out there, and it can be hard to spot when you're getting started. Based on this question, you're already asking the right things- understanding the level of value your company places on the technical team will help inform which player you'll get to be.
Best of luck!
Venkata Sai Sandeep Velaga
Senior software engineering
24
Answers
Princeton, Texas
Updated
Venkata Sai Sandeep’s Answer
How Software Engineers Collaborate with Other Roles:
Imagine building a huge video game or a cool app—everyone on the team has a specific job to do, but they have to work together to make the final product awesome. In a big company, like the telecom company I work for, it's the same idea. Here's how we all work together:
1. Working with Product Managers (PMs)
What They Do: They decide what we’re building and why. Think of them like the captain of the ship who plans the journey.
How I Work with Them: They tell me, "Hey, customers want a feature that shows how much internet they’ve used this month." I then figure out how to build it with my team and let them know if it’s possible or if it needs changes.
2. Working with Designers
What They Do: They make things look cool and easy to use. Think of them like artists who design the menus and buttons in a video game.
How I Work with Them: They’ll show me designs, like how a customer’s app should display their phone bill. I make sure their designs work well on actual phones or computers without being too slow or complicated.
3. Working with QA Testers
What They Do: They test everything to make sure it works and doesn’t crash. It’s like how you’d play a game before releasing it to find bugs.
How I Work with Them: After I finish building a feature, they try it out to see if it breaks or if there’s anything weird. For example, they might test, “What happens if someone uses the app in a different country?” If something’s wrong, I fix it.
In a Telecom Company Like Mine.Here’s an example that happens in my job:
Our company serves millions of people who use phones and the internet every day. Let’s say the company wants to show customers their monthly data usage in real-time.
The product manager explains why customers need this feature.
The designer makes the screen look simple and clear.
I, as the software engineer, build the code to make it all work and connect it to the telecom systems that track data usage.
The QA testers make sure it works for everyone—whether they’re using a phone, a tablet, or a computer.
Big vs. Small Companies
In Small Companies: Everyone does a little of everything. I’d be doing design, testing, and coding all at once.
In Big Companies (like mine): Each person has a clear role, but we work together to make sure everything fits. It’s like a giant puzzle, and every piece is important.
Imagine building a huge video game or a cool app—everyone on the team has a specific job to do, but they have to work together to make the final product awesome. In a big company, like the telecom company I work for, it's the same idea. Here's how we all work together:
1. Working with Product Managers (PMs)
What They Do: They decide what we’re building and why. Think of them like the captain of the ship who plans the journey.
How I Work with Them: They tell me, "Hey, customers want a feature that shows how much internet they’ve used this month." I then figure out how to build it with my team and let them know if it’s possible or if it needs changes.
2. Working with Designers
What They Do: They make things look cool and easy to use. Think of them like artists who design the menus and buttons in a video game.
How I Work with Them: They’ll show me designs, like how a customer’s app should display their phone bill. I make sure their designs work well on actual phones or computers without being too slow or complicated.
3. Working with QA Testers
What They Do: They test everything to make sure it works and doesn’t crash. It’s like how you’d play a game before releasing it to find bugs.
How I Work with Them: After I finish building a feature, they try it out to see if it breaks or if there’s anything weird. For example, they might test, “What happens if someone uses the app in a different country?” If something’s wrong, I fix it.
In a Telecom Company Like Mine.Here’s an example that happens in my job:
Our company serves millions of people who use phones and the internet every day. Let’s say the company wants to show customers their monthly data usage in real-time.
The product manager explains why customers need this feature.
The designer makes the screen look simple and clear.
I, as the software engineer, build the code to make it all work and connect it to the telecom systems that track data usage.
The QA testers make sure it works for everyone—whether they’re using a phone, a tablet, or a computer.
Big vs. Small Companies
In Small Companies: Everyone does a little of everything. I’d be doing design, testing, and coding all at once.
In Big Companies (like mine): Each person has a clear role, but we work together to make sure everything fits. It’s like a giant puzzle, and every piece is important.
Mario Elena
Software developer & quality assurance
5
Answers
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Mario’s Answer
I work at the large enterprise company, Oracle.
How we, software engineers, collaborate is mostly through the instant messaging app, Slack.
My team uses Zoom meetings every day for a quick 10 minute status update which involves the Product Manager, other developers, the team manager & the quality assurance person.
Another way we collaborate is using Atlassian's product, JIRA. Here the product manager will create a giant 'ticket' outlining what they want done.
Developers, product manager & QA collaborate on how to break it down into manageable tickets/units of work and we put our names on it to indicate that we are working on it.
In the daily status meeting everyone can see how each ticket has progressed. Engineers will then assign that ticket to QA for sign off.
Engineers will often collaborate with user experience designers using a tool called FigMa. The designers themselves collaborate with a lot of other people, but at the end of the day they provide a mock up for that giant ticket and we collaborate on what & what can't be done.
Engineers also use a lot of other tools from Atlatssian to architect/diagram what we think how those giant tickets will be completed. They are mostly technical in nature and reviewed by other engineers and QA people.
And if at any point in reading the above, the collaboration is conducted over Slacke, zoom or in person.
How we, software engineers, collaborate is mostly through the instant messaging app, Slack.
My team uses Zoom meetings every day for a quick 10 minute status update which involves the Product Manager, other developers, the team manager & the quality assurance person.
Another way we collaborate is using Atlassian's product, JIRA. Here the product manager will create a giant 'ticket' outlining what they want done.
Developers, product manager & QA collaborate on how to break it down into manageable tickets/units of work and we put our names on it to indicate that we are working on it.
In the daily status meeting everyone can see how each ticket has progressed. Engineers will then assign that ticket to QA for sign off.
Engineers will often collaborate with user experience designers using a tool called FigMa. The designers themselves collaborate with a lot of other people, but at the end of the day they provide a mock up for that giant ticket and we collaborate on what & what can't be done.
Engineers also use a lot of other tools from Atlatssian to architect/diagram what we think how those giant tickets will be completed. They are mostly technical in nature and reviewed by other engineers and QA people.
And if at any point in reading the above, the collaboration is conducted over Slacke, zoom or in person.