Developer Level Up Course
Elevate your career from coder to technical leader in the AI era
The AI revolution is redefining software development almost overnight. With code generation rising rapidly as costs are declining, traditional coding skills are rapidly becoming commoditized. Today's developers face a critical choice: move up the value chain or risk career stagnation. While software engineering's core complexity will always require human expertise in strategic thinking, engineering discipline, and managing complexity, the nature of that expertise is fundamentally changing. For junior and mid-career developers, the path forward is clear - expand beyond coding into technical leadership. This course shows you exactly how to make that transition.
Computer languages of the future will be more concerned with goals and less with procedures specified by the programmer.
— Marvin Minsky (1969)
- AI Demands technical leadership
The integration of AI into development processes demands new skills but brings greater productivity. The act of directing and verifying the work of AI assistants, requires every developer needs to have a level of technical leadership that comes with co-ordinating the work of others. - Tough market and economic conditions
The low inflation era of ready finance, easy growth and abundant opportunities is over. The market has become more competitive and demanding, and that puts downward pressure on developer pay and conditions especially for those less experienced. - AI will create new opportunities and disrupt existing businesses
Some have assumed AI means less developers but that remains to be seen. The more creative and adaptable developers will find new opportunities. Not all will do so, will you?
Take control of your career
Course overview
This intensive 9-week professional development course provides your roadmap for moving up the value chain. Through carefully curated material drawn from academic research, industry experience, active mentorship and proven practices, you'll develop the skills and be given the systems needed to thrive in this new era of software development. No build tools or web frameworks du jour, we emphasize immediate impact and sustainable growth - you'll apply new knowledge and resources to expand your capabilities from day one.
Course topics
- Foundational concepts
You don't need to be a computer scientist but sufficient mental models of the theoretical foundations of software development will narrow the solution search space and avoid violations of fundamental precepts.
Sample lectures: Systems Thinking, Mental Models, Managing Complexity, Working with Abstractions
- Principled engineering
What personal systems do you have in place to ensure you are productive and effective? What heuristics can you apply to deal with uncertainty and complexity?
Sample lectures: Programming Paradigms & Patterns, From Debugging to Problem-Solving, Critical Thinking in Software, Control Security
- Career strategy
You may or may not have a career plan, but do you have the strategies to progress it?
Sample lectures: Technical Interviewing, Understanding Behaviours & Motivations, Effective Salary Negotiation
- AI integration
Develop practical skills for effectively working with AI tools and understanding their capabilities and limitations in the development process.
Sample lectures: AI Models, AI Behaviours, AI Control & Governance
Course format
- Weekly live sessions
Participate in 2-hour live online sessions each week, where key concepts are taught, demonstrated, and discussed in an interactive environment.
- Flexible support
Access additional weekly office hours for personalized guidance, question answering, and deep dives into applying concepts to your specific challenges.
- Structured progression
Follow a carefully designed 9-week curriculum that builds your capabilities progressively, with each week reinforcing and expanding upon previous learning.
Features
- Evidence-based content
Curated insights drawn from academic papers, books, and lectures, and leveraging the instructor's 25 years of industry experience.
- Clear knowledge provenance
References to original sources for further exploration with labeling to match the claims made in the course from theorems to opinions.
- Systems & models
Each key topic includes practical frameworks and mental models—from abstraction techniques to complexity management, from interviewing strategies to salary negotiation—that you can immediately apply to improve your technical work and career decisions.
- Personal Knowledge Management (PKM)
You'll receive a comprehensive Obsidian vault containing mind maps, fully annotated lecture slides with references, and customizable templates to capture and apply key concepts throughout your career.
- Mentorship
As well as course support, you can use the weekly office hours provided for mentorship on development challenges and career advice.
- Standards
Each lecture includes clear performance standards and self-assessment tools that allow you to measure your progress, identify growth areas, and ensure you're developing practical competence—not just theoretical knowledge.
Course prerequisites
- 1+ years commercial development experience
- Proficiency in at least one programming language
- Working knowledge of Git and basic DevOps
- Commitment to 2-3 hours weekly for 9 weeks
Course support
- Cohort forum
Connect with an exclusive network of forward-thinking developers in your cohort through our dedicated community platform, building valuable professional relationships that extend beyond the course duration.
- Office hours
At least one hour per week will be provided for Q&A with the instructor where you can ask questions on the course material, your work, or your career and get feedback.
- PKM updates
Benefit from continuous knowledge system improvements with regular updates to your Obsidian vault, ensuring your investment appreciates in value even after course completion.
- Career credentials
Receive a recognized course completion certificate that demonstrates to employers your commitment to professional growth, technical leadership skills, and readiness for the AI-augmented development landscape—valuable for promotions, job applications, and professional profiles.
Reserve your spot
Launch only pricing
AUD $3,500 | GBP £1,900 | NZD $3,500 | USD $1,900
Pays for itself!
- Save time and ship faster
- Office hours with a mentor
- Better credentials, higher pay, better offers
- Fewer bugs, less stress
- Stay relevant, stay ahead
- Smarter decisions, bigger impact, more control
After completing this course
- Confidently direct AI coding assistants to accelerate your development workflow
- Apply structured approaches to breaking down complex engineering problems
- Position yourself for technical leadership roles with enhanced system design skills
- Navigate salary negotiations with proven frameworks for maximizing compensation
- Leverage a personalized knowledge system that grows with your career
Secure your place with a fully refundable 10% deposit. Once enrolled, you'll receive detailed course information and payment options.
Meet your coach
With over 25 years in software development, I've witnessed and adapted to each wave of technological disruption. This course distills my experience into field-tested strategies and insights that work in the real world.
My pedagogical approach is to build your intuition with examples and then crystallise the knowledge with models and systems that you'll refer to at your leisure. I'll provide you with ongoing support to apply these concepts to your work and career.
A true maestro of software engineering and the most important mentor in my career.
— Isaac J.
