Jean
du Plessis
Leader, mentor, and coach of Software Engineering teams and now also agents
About
From left: Hannah, Jane, Tracy, Grace and Isabella.
Nestled in the coastal town of Kleinmond, just a short scenic drive from Cape Town, I live with my wife Tracy and our quadruplet daughters: Grace, Isabella, Hannah, and Jane. Our household is made complete by three dogs: Maddy, Max, and Milo. Life with quadruplets is exactly as wonderfully chaotic as you might imagine.
I am a Christian, and my faith is a grounding force in everything I do, from how I lead and treat people to how I approach each day. It shapes my values of integrity, humility, and servant leadership.
By nature, I am an introvert. You will not find me on social media; it is simply not my thing. Instead, I find my energy outdoors: hiking the trails around the Kogelberg Biosphere, walking on the beach, or simply being present in the remarkable natural beauty that surrounds Kleinmond.
Trust is the single most important component in my management approach. I give trust from day one. It is not something you need to earn.
Manager
README
My Philosophy
I hire smart people, set clear expectations, offer collaboration when needed, and hold people accountable for outcomes. I am a hands-off manager by default, but I am always available. You will never have to wonder whether I have time for you. I do.
Trust First
Trust is the foundation of everything I do. I extend trust from day one, and it is yours to keep. I believe people do their best work when they feel trusted and psychologically safe. This is non-negotiable in my teams.
Growth & Development
I am deeply invested in career development and personal growth. I use growth logs for my reports to track progress and aspirations. I use the CliftonStrengths assessment to understand and leverage each person's unique talents.
Cadence & Communication
Weekly one-on-ones are sacred. They are your time, not mine. Monthly skip-level meetings ensure I stay connected across the organization. I value feedback deeply, both giving and receiving, and I work hard to create environments where candor thrives.
Career
Aug 2022 — Present
Upbound
Director of Engineering
Leading engineering teams building the universal cloud platform powered by Crossplane. Driving technical strategy, team growth, and delivery excellence.
Nov 2020 — Jun 2022
Sourcegraph
Director of Engineering
Directed multiple engineering teams building universal code search. Scaled the organization, improved engineering processes, and delivered key product milestones.
Jul 2019 — Oct 2020
GitLab
Engineering Manager
Managed engineering teams in an all-remote environment, contributing to GitLab's DevOps platform. Championed transparent processes and async collaboration.
Feb 2017 — Jun 2019
Samewave
Senior Engineering
Senior engineering role at a social performance management startup. Built features that connected goals, accountability, and team performance.
Mar 2006 — Jan 2017
Mirum Agency
CTO
Over a decade leading technology at a global digital agency. Grew the engineering team, established technical standards, and delivered solutions for major brands.
Contact
I am always open to thoughtful conversations about engineering leadership, team building, or the challenges of scaling organizations. If something here resonated with you, I would be glad to connect.
While I am not on social media, you can find me on LinkedIn and GitHub.
- LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/jeandp
- GitHubgithub.com/jeanduplessis