For years, being a software engineer meant being really good at writing code. If you could architect scalable systems, optimise performance and push clean code, you were set. But today, things are different.
With AI tools like Claude 3.7 Sonnet, GPT-4, and GitHub Copilot, writing code has become easier, faster, and more accessible than ever. AI can now generate boilerplate code, refactor functions, and even suggest architectural improvements.
If your only skill is writing code, you’re at risk of being replaced or outpaced by those who can do more. The best engineers today aren’t just coding, they’re designing, thinking strategically, and deeply understanding users.
Welcome to the era of the Product Engineer.
What is a Product Engineer?
A Product Engineer is more than just a software developer. They don’t just execute someone else’s vision, they help shape the vision.
A Product Engineer:
- Understands user experience (UX) – They don’t just build features; they ensure they are intuitive and easy to use and solve real problems.
- Think like a designer – They care about how things look and feel, not just how they function.
- Talks directly to users – Instead of relying on second-hand information from product managers, they engage with customers to understand pain points firsthand.
- Makes product decisions – They know what should be built, not just how to build it.
- Understands the market – They’re aware of what competitors are doing and where opportunities lie.
- Use AI as a tool, not a crutch – Instead of fearing AI, they use it to speed up execution and focus on high-value work.
The line between engineer and product manager is blurring. The best engineers today don’t just take orders; they help define the roadmap.
Why UX, Design, and Talking to Users Matter
Software development used to be feature-driven. Engineers would just build whatever was written in a spec document. But the most successful products today aren’t just feature-rich; they’re user-friendly and deeply intuitive.
1. UX is the Difference Between a Good Product and a Great Product
Think about the most popular apps, Apple’s ecosystem, Stripe’s payments dashboard, Figma’s design tools. They all have one thing in common: exceptional user experience.
- Speed matters – A product should be snappy and responsive.
- Simplicity matters – Users shouldn’t have to think too much to complete a task.
- Delight matters – Small details, animations, and feedback loops improve engagement.
Product Engineers don’t just make things work; they make them work beautifully.
2. Good Design Isn’t Just About Aesthetics, It’s About Functionality
Great design isn’t just about how something looks; it’s about how easy and enjoyable it is to use.
- If a user has to read a manual to figure out how your app works, you’ve failed.
- If a feature is technically impressive but confusing to users, it’s useless.
- If an interface is cluttered, overwhelming, or inconsistent, people will leave.
Engineers who think like designers build products that people actually enjoy using.
3. Talking to Users is a Superpower
Traditional engineers work in silos, they get a ticket and build it. But the best engineers today are customer-obsessed.
- They jump on calls with users to understand their frustrations.
- They shadow users to see how they interact with the product.
- They analyse data to identify friction points.
- They ask questions like: “Why do people churn? Why do they hesitate before completing an action? What do they wish existed?”
When engineers engage with users directly, they make smarter product decisions because they’re solving real problems, not just shipping features for the sake of it.
Why This Shift Is Happening
The separation between engineering and product management made sense in an era where software development was slow and expensive. But AI, cloud computing, and modern tooling have changed the game.
Now, companies, especially startups, want builders, not just coders.
- Faster iteration cycles – Engineers understanding product strategy move faster than teams relying on handoffs.
- Better decision-making – Engineers with market awareness make smarter trade-offs between speed, performance, and usability.
- Stronger alignment – When engineers talk to users directly, they build what people actually need.
The best engineers today don’t wait for instructions. They lead.
This Requires a Cultural Shift, Too
Empowering engineers to think like product owners isn’t just about tools or individual skills; it’s about changing how teams work and how companies think.
To truly support this evolution, organisations need to foster a culture that values innovation, initiative, and ownership. That means:
- Encouraging engineers to speak up, contribute ideas, and take the lead on product decisions.
- Creating space for experimentation, even if that comes with some risk.
- Breaking down the traditional silos between engineering, design, and product.
- Rewarding not just the speed of delivery but the impact of what gets built.
This kind of shift doesn’t happen overnight. It requires buy-in from leadership, a mindset of continuous learning, and a genuine belief that great ideas can come from anywhere, especially from those closest to the code and the customer.
In an ideal world, this would already be the norm. But increasingly, it's becoming a necessity. Especially in a landscape where speed, adaptability, and deep user understanding define the most successful team
How We’re Doing This at SkyU
At SkyU, this is exactly how we operate.
- Our engineers don’t just code, they talk to our users and potential customers and help shape the roadmap.
- We care deeply about user experience, ensuring that what we build is both powerful and easy to use.
- We use AI to accelerate development, so we can focus on high-impact work instead of repetitive tasks.
- Every engineer on our team thinks like a product owner, making decisions that improve the overall experience.
This approach isn’t just more efficient, it leads to better products.
The Future Belongs to Product Engineers
If you’re an engineer today, ask yourself:
- Are you just writing code, or are you helping define the product?
- Are you thinking about user experience, or are you just implementing features?
- Are you talking to customers, or are you disconnected from the people using your software?
AI isn’t replacing engineers, but it is changing what makes an engineer valuable. The best engineers of the future won’t be those who can just write perfect code, they’ll be the ones who can build great products.
The Product Engineer is the future.
