On this episode of Tech Teams Today, I sat down with Joshua Krohn, SVP of Engineering at Flash Parking, for a deep dive into what makes engineering teams truly great—and what holds them back.
Joshua has led teams through acquisitions, scale-ups, and major tech transformations, and in our conversation, he shared a wealth of insight on leadership, hiring, and the evolving role of AI in software development.
Here are a few takeaways that really stuck with me:
1. Engineers Are Too Protected—And That’s a Problem
Joshua’s take? Engineers are overprotected.
Yes, flow time and focus matter—but when engineers are isolated from the business, it creates blind spots. Joshua believes engineers should be involved in strategic decisions early and often.
They’re the ones building the product. They should help shape it, too.
2. The Best Teams Have Ownership and Accountability
Joshua stressed that the strongest teams aren’t just technically excellent—they own outcomes.
He focuses on creating teams where engineers know how their work impacts the business, understand what’s expected of them, and trust each other to execute.
That trust and clarity is what separates high-performing teams from the rest.
3. Promote from Within
According to Joshua, you can’t always spot leadership potential in an interview—but you can see it in action.
That’s why Flash Parking leans heavily on internal promotions. When engineers take ownership and show initiative, they’re often better candidates for leadership than someone with a perfect resume.
Start small: give someone a project to lead. See how they plan, communicate, and deliver.
4. AI Is a Tool—Use It That Way
Flash Parking is using AI in powerful ways—from real-time vehicle tracking to edge-based damage detection using computer vision.
But internally, Joshua sees AI as a developer productivity booster. His teams are experimenting with:
- Code generation
- Unit test scaffolding
- Documentation and explanation tools
- Large-context analysis with models like Gemini
His message to engineers: Don’t fear AI—learn how to work with it. The best engineers of the future will be the ones who can direct these tools, not be replaced by them.
5. Don’t Wait for Permission to Lead
This was one of my favorite insights from the episode:
“If you’re waiting for someone to offer you a leadership role, you might be waiting a long time.”
Joshua encourages engineers to step up—take on messy projects, drive outcomes, make your ambition clear. Leadership isn’t just a title; it’s something you practice before you’re officially given the role.
Final Thoughts
This episode is packed with insights that every engineering leader—and aspiring leader—needs to hear. If you’re thinking about how to scale your team, hire the right people, or integrate AI into your workflows, don’t miss this one.
👉 The full episode of Tech Teams Today is now live on all major podcast platforms.
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