Time:
Room:
Humans in the Loop: Hiring Software Engineers in the AI Era
AI is changing how we design and build software, and expanding the kinds of products we can deliver. With powerful tools now in daily use, the expectations for engineers are evolving. The question for teams is no longer just “can they code?” but “can they bring the judgment, creativity, and collaboration that tools can’t replace?”
At Livefront, we’ve spent years painstakingly screening candidates and learning what really predicts success on real projects. In this talk, we’ll share practical ways to evaluate both technical fluency and the human skills that stand the test of time. We’ll look at techniques for identifying candidates who:
- Think critically about problems rather than relying on canned solutions.
- Communicate ideas clearly to peers and stakeholders.
- Use tools effectively without being limited by them.
- Show adaptability, curiosity, and creativity that help teams thrive.
This session is aimed at engineering leads and hiring managers who want sharper approaches to interviews and technical screens, though prospective engineers may also appreciate the perspective. The future is uncertain, but experience give us clues about which abilities will continue to matter, even as AI reshapes how software is built and how teams work together.
Nick Krantz
Senior Software Engineer
Livefront, Inc.
I love to build things. I'm driven by the process of turning an idea into something real and functional. In software and on the web, the tools change, but the process remains: design, build, fail, revise, repeat. My approach to software carries through to how I view the interview process. Regardless of the tools, I identify engineers whose skills and creativity will strengthen what we build together.
Pete Jones
Senior Software Engineer
Livefront, Inc.
I’m a web-focused generalist who’s helped everyone from fresh-faced startups to enterprise juggernauts untangle their tech knots. I’ve worked on products that keep companies running, students learning, and consumers a little less confused. Somewhere along the line I became the resident nerd-to-business interpreter, which naturally spills over into technical hiring at client companies and at Livefront, my consulting home base.