[wellpast]

> And the technical interview falls flat. The product engineer isn't intrisincally interested in software — programming is merely the tool for maximal leverage on the world.

Yes... but we can't let you off the hook too much. I consider myself a Product Engineer as well, but to be able to creatively evolve a product you need to have some serious professional tools under your belt and many of these are technical, I'm afraid.

To use his analogy: "Song designers are musicians first." I wouldn't trust a song designer that couldn't answer some of the relevant technical questions.

There is a very real question as to how to recruit and interview well. This self-proclaimed "Product Engineer" claims "I'm the test case you want to turn green," but the real question is: how can we tell he's the real deal from the next guy? (Hint: it isn't JUST take his word for it.)