In this episode of the SMC Journal, Scott Moore introduces the Software Lifecycle Engineer (SLE). How is it different from the Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), or the Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)? Is it even worth considering as a new title?
Scott has been refining this idea since 2017 when he first wrote the article “Software Engineer Across the Lifecycle” (SEAL) on LinkedIn. Now, he’s calling it the SLE – Software Lifecycle Engineer. is this the missing piece in today’s IT puzzle for performance engineers? It this the evolution of the performance engineering role in a DevOps model?
Current Industry Approaches – SDET and SRE
The discussion starts with a look at the current landscape of software development, focusing on concepts like “shift left” and performance engineering. Two roles stand out in this space: the Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) and the Site Reliability Engineer (SRE). Microsoft pioneered the SDET role, while Google introduced SREs. Both have made significant impacts in the industry and bring unique strengths to the table.
An SDET is essentially a developer with a testing mindset—someone skilled in coding, deeply familiar with the software, and dedicated to advocating for the customer. They build tools to catch issues early, aligning perfectly with the shift-left approach. Meanwhile, an SRE blends development and operations expertise, focusing on automation, telemetry, and system reliability. Their mission is to eliminate repetitive toil and ensure smooth operation across the DevOps pipeline.
Despite their value, there’s a catch. Years of experience reveal that developers often don’t excel as testers, operations experts, or customer advocates. Even in agile environments, silos between QA and development teams persist. The idea of a “unicorn”—someone who can seamlessly handle coding, testing, and deployment—is appealing, but such individuals are rare. Relying on them alone isn’t a scalable solution for most organizations.
Introducing the Software Lifecycle Engineer
This is where the Software Lifecycle Engineer (SLE) comes in. The SLE is designed to break down the barriers between development, testing, and operations, while keeping a sharp eye on business goals and user experience. Quality and performance remain shared responsibilities, but the SLE brings a deeper level of ownership. They act as the connective tissue across the entire software lifecycle, from initial requirements to ongoing monitoring.
So, what defines an SLE? They don’t need to master every detail but must understand the full technology stack—think infrastructure, networks, applications, and protocols. Unlike an SDET, who might focus narrowly on testing, or an SRE, who’s entrenched in operations, the SLE takes a holistic view. They’re always considering how decisions impact the business and the end user, prioritizing lifecycle-wide connections over specialized niches.
What Makes a Software Lifecycle Engineer Tick?
Here’s what the Software Lifecycle Engineer (SLE) brings to the table:
- Strong problem-solving skills. They tackle complex issues and sort out chaos when systems falter.
- Extensive automation experience. They handle automation across diverse technologies, including older, legacy systems.
- Comprehensive tech stack knowledge. They understand the interplay from infrastructure to front-end components.
- End-to-end lifecycle perspective. They’re involved from initial requirements through to post-launch monitoring.
- Focus on business and users. They prioritize business objectives and end-user experience above all.
- Mentorship capabilities. They guide and elevate other team members, sharing expertise freely.
- Commitment to best practices. They implement standards like SLOs and SLAs to maintain quality.
- Performance troubleshooting expertise. They pinpoint root causes and resolve bottlenecks across systems.
- AI and machine learning proficiency. They leverage these tools for deeper insights and risk analysis.
In an Scaled Agile Framework environment (SAFe) , this role could fit within a systems team, potentially focusing on key areas like performance, security, or accessibility. Performance stands out as a critical need—currently, it lacks a clear owner in many organizations unless it rolls up directly to the CTO. With technology advancing rapidly, this demand is only intensifying.
The Growing Relevance of the Software Lifecycle Engineer
The concept of the Software Lifecycle Engineer (SLE) resonates strongly. It addresses an unrecognized gap—a professional who connects the dots across the lifecycle, ensures seamless operation, and keeps the end user at the forefront. As transient environments and emerging technologies continue to disrupt the landscape, the SLE’s blend of broad insight and targeted expertise could prove transformative. The idea is open for discussion: could the SLE redefine software engineering’s future?
For those looking to advance their career or recruit for such a role, this is worth exploring. The tech industry is in flux, and the Software Lifecycle Engineer might just be the next evolution waiting to take center stage.
Check out this other episode on site reliability engineering versus performance engineering.
🔥 Like and Subscribe 🔥
Connect with me 👋
TWITTER ► https://bit.ly/3HmWF8d
LINKEDIN COMPANY ► https://bit.ly/3kICS9g
LINKEDIN PROFILE ► https://bit.ly/30Eshp7
Want to support the show? Buy Me A Coffee! https://bit.ly/3NadcPK
🔗 Links:
- Scott Moore Consulting: https://scottmoore.consulting
- The Performance Tour: https://theperformancetour.com
- SMC Journal: https://smcjournal.com
- DevOps Driving: https://devopsdriving.com
- Security Champions https://thesecuritychampions.com
- DevPerfOps: https://devperfops.org
- PerfCruise: https://perfcruise.com