• Atlassian CEO says more engineers are needed as demand for tech grows.
• He emphasized that new tech will require more human engineers, despite vibe coding tools’ explosion.
• He said Atlassian is hiring more new grads this year compared to previous years.

Vibe coding isn’t replacing engineering jobs at one tech giant.

In an episode of the “20VC” podcast released Monday, Atlassian’s cofounder and CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes said companies would need more software developers because more and better technology will be created over time.

“Five years from now, we’ll have more engineers working for our company than we do today,” Cannon-Brookes said. He added: “They will be more efficient, but technology creation is not output-bound.”

This is because people will keep coming up with new ideas for the technology they want, and engineers will be needed to build it, he said.

“Maybe crap ideas, maybe good ideas,” he said. “I like to be an optimist and think we will end up with far more technology, firstly, and secondly, far better technology.”

Cannon-Brookes cofounded the Australian-American software company in 2002. Atlassian is best known for Jira, an issue- and project-tracking software. According to regulatory filings, the company had 13,813 full-time employees as of June — about 14% more than the year before.

The CEO’s optimism extends to new computer science graduates.

He said that Atlassian is hiring more new graduates this year than last year and 2023 because it needs more staff for its research and development and engineering teams.

“There’s a good chance that those graduates come in with a different view on what it means to be a software developer and shake up the existing world of talent in a positive way for my business,” he said.

Cannon-Brookes said that just because some finance or marketing professionals are using vibe coding tools to build applications or create websites doesn’t mean there is less for “core technologists to do.”

Atlassian did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The Atlassian CEO joins several other tech leaders who say that vibe coding, a term meaning AI-assisted coding, isn’t all doom and gloom for software engineers.

In April, Windsurf’s then-CEO Varun Mohan said vibe coding doesn’t mean companies should hire fewer engineers.

“Engineers spend more time than just writing code. They review code, test code, debug code, design code, deploy code, right?” the cofounder of the vibe coding startup said in a podcast interview.

On a June podcast, Bob McGrew, the former chief research officer at OpenAI, said professional software engineers are not going to lose their jobs to vibe coding just yet.

“If you are given a code base that you don’t understand — this is a classic software engineering question — is that a liability or is it an asset?” McGrew said of software made with vibe coding. “And the classic answer is that it’s a liability.”

Kristel Van den Boom has successfully restored the piano-shaped grave of renowned pianist René Vandeplas in Leuven, replacing approximately 400 mosaic tiles despite facing personal health challenges, reports 24brussels.

The restoration, recently highlighted by VRT News, attracted significant local interest, with Kristel sharing before-and-after photos on the Facebook page Goed nieuws in Leuven (Good News from Leuven). The project received widespread praise from the community, showcasing a commitment to preserving historical heritage.

Alderman Bieke Verlinden expressed her admiration for Kristel’s dedication in a letter, stating, “I am deeply impressed by all you have accomplished, despite your own illness and rehabilitation. The photos show not only the beautiful result, but also the heartfelt story behind it. You have not only saved a piece of heritage and memory, but also sparked a wave of solidarity and appreciation.”

Background on René Vandeplas and the Restoration Effort

René Vandeplas, a celebrated pianist in Leuven, passed away in 1965. Kristel Van den Boom first encountered his grave as a child during All Saints’ Day visits and was drawn to its distinctive piano shape. Over the years, the gravestone deteriorated significantly.

After unsuccessful attempts to locate Vandeplas’s relatives, Kristel obtained official approval to restore the grave independently. She initiated the process by working on the bluestone base but was forced to halt her efforts due to a serious illness.

Kristel returned to the project two months ago, undertaking extensive cleaning, mosaic repairs, and moss removal to restore the gravestone’s design. “It turned out that about 400 mosaic tiles were missing, so I went by bus or bike to tile companies that could help me. A tile company in Bierbeek was willing to provide the tiles for free; the owners only wanted some advertising in return,” Kristel explained.

Despite experiencing numbness in her fingers due to medical issues, Kristel persevered through the physical challenges involved in the restoration. “I often had to stop glueing the tiles and massage my fingers before I could continue,” she said, illustrating her determination to see the project through to completion.