Making the transition from consultant to product engineer

The author reflects on their experience transitioning from working as a consultant engineer to becoming a product engineer at Intercom. They highlight the stark differences between these two roles, with consultancy work often involving fixed-price contracts, time and materials billing, and a focus on delivering value for clients rather than building something that benefits the company. In contrast, being a product engineer at Intercom involves a strong focus on the product, understanding customers, and making incremental improvements to deliver great products. The author notes that this sense of ownership leads to increased responsibility, iterative improvements, and a greater sense of satisfaction in their work.