About Cali

I'm a Staff Software Engineer. Been doing this for over 8 years, shipping production systems that handle real money. Claude Code is part of my daily workflow for building, refactoring, and debugging.

Eight years ago I was making $2,000 a month. At one point I took a $400/month internship because I knew the learning would pay off later. Now I'm a staff engineer earning six figures. Betting on myself was the best decision I ever made.

I write about three things:

• •AI-Assisted Engineering – how AI tools actually change the way software gets built, not in theory, but in the day-to-day reality of shipping production code.
• •Engineering Leadership – what it actually takes to grow from mid-level to staff and how to lead engineers once you get there.
• •Intentional Living – structuring your life to sustain high performance without burning out.

I'm a digital nomad. I think the hard stuff you do outside of work (gym when you're tired, meditation when your brain won't shut up) is what actually makes you sharp at work. Discipline carries over.

Most “AI experts” have never built anything real. Most leadership content has nothing to do with modern engineering. Most lifestyle content is just hustle porn. I've got a foot in all three, and I only write about things I've actually done.

If you want to follow along, the newsletter is the best way. It goes out weekly. No fluff, no growth hacks. Just what's working.