A Startup Within a Giant: X’s Ultra-Lean Product Team (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, recently shared candid insights into the demanding yet exhilarating experience of working directly under Elon Musk.
A Startup Within a Giant: X’s Ultra-Lean Product Team
X maintains a remarkably small product organization despite serving hundreds of millions of users worldwide. The core team consists of about 30 product engineers, two designers, a couple of product managers, and Bier himself.[1][2]
This setup stands in stark contrast to Bier’s prior roles at larger tech firms like Meta and Discord. There, he noted, the engineering team size at X equated to just one feature team at Facebook. Few managers exist, fostering a flat structure where individual contributors often report straight to Musk. Such leanness enables rapid iteration but demands exceptional efficiency from every member.
Weekly Scrutiny: Musk’s Direct Feedback Loop
Elon Musk immerses himself deeply in operations through structured weekly reviews with every engineer. Participants prepare one or two slides detailing their weekly accomplishments, after which Musk delivers immediate feedback.[1]
Bier highlighted Musk’s unwavering commitment to tackling the toughest challenges first. Rather than pursuing quick wins, Musk prioritizes critical tasks like algorithm overhauls or data center construction. This approach ensures focus on high-impact work amid constant pressures. Engineers gain rare visibility into the CEO’s thinking, accelerating learning and alignment.
Non-Stop Crises: The Relentless Pace
Bier described his position as “the hardest I’ve ever done in my life,” marked by fresh crises emerging every morning.[1] He recounted waking at night to conspiracy theories targeting him or discovering his home address posted publicly on the platform every few weeks.
Handling the demands of roughly 500 million users feels like providing customer support on a massive scale. Bier spends four to five hours daily on X as a power user, blurring lines between work and personal engagement. These incidents test resilience but sharpen problem-solving under fire. The role requires constant vigilance in a high-visibility environment.
High Agency Fuels the Fire
Despite the grind, Bier emphasized profound autonomy as a major draw. Team members ideate, build, and deploy features within a week, shipping directly to users.[2]
- Flat hierarchy empowers quick decisions without layers of approval.
- Personal investment ties success to the platform’s longevity.
- Musk’s involvement inspires through example on difficult tasks.
- Rapid cycles deliver immediate gratification from user impact.
This dynamic makes the intense schedule “a lot of fun,” according to Bier. He personally stakes his creator identity on X’s endurance, heightening motivation.
Key Takeaways
- X’s product team operates like a nimble startup with just 30 engineers driving global scale.
- Musk conducts weekly one-on-one style reviews with all engineers for direct input.
- Daily crises demand round-the-clock readiness, yet high agency makes it rewarding.
The realities Bier outlined reveal a high-wire act at X, where lean teams and CEO oversight propel innovation amid chaos. Leaders everywhere might ponder adopting elements of this model for speed and focus. What aspects of Musk’s style intrigue you most? Share in the comments.