What is the difference between an EM and Tech Lead position in terms of amount of individual contribution overall (is this a difference of 80-20%)? Not like a TPM position which is more business facing, but I expect EM to be more cross-functional than Tech Lead.
How is EM similar to Tech Lead, but how does it work with it at a larger company structure wise, and with TPMs on a project? Who has the most 'power' and autonomy?
Context: Previously I was a startup founder and CTO and as I contemplated senior IC roles that I have interviewed for (AI primarily), I'm curious to know the differences here because I could go either way and I'm afraid that EM roles I may be in less code day to day. Does it just mean I have more 1:1s for soft skill stuff to mentor other engineers as oppose to talk to them about the actual nature of the work?
