How We Define SRE Work

After a year at Honeycomb as the first site reliability engineer (SRE), the author reflects on their role in shaping the SRE function, which was initially undefined. Tasked with creating a charter to guide the SRE responsibilities, the author outlines key areas such as owning the reliability roadmap, leading incident practices, and providing tools to improve system reliability. This charter is not only a communication tool but also helps align priorities and facilitate team growth as more SREs are hired. The author uses a monthly grid to track their time allocation across different SRE tasks, allowing for rebalancing when necessary. The emphasis is on adaptability, as the SRE role evolves with the company's growth, organizational changes, and emerging challenges. Engaging with the wider SRE community, the author invites others to share their experiences to foster a collaborative learning environment.