As we step into 2026, the landscape of engineering has evolved dramatically, necessitating that senior engineers tackle increasingly complex challenges. From designing solutions for the failure modes of autonomous agents to ensuring p99 latency remains predictable amidst traffic spikes, the role of senior engineers is more critical than ever. At QCon San Francisco 2026, set to take place from November 16-18 at the Hyatt Regency, attendees can expect a wealth of insights tailored to these pressing issues. With a diverse lineup of 60+ practitioners sharing their expertise, the conference promises to be a pivotal event for both seasoned professionals and emerging talents in the tech industry.
Who’s Selecting the Program?
The program committee for QCon consists of six highly experienced practitioners, each with a proven track record of shipping significant systems. This unique blend of expertise ensures that the sessions are not only relevant but also practical. The notable committee members include:
- Erin Doyle, Founding Engineer @Quotient and Instructor @Egghead
- Haley Tucker, Retired Principal Software Engineer for Platform Engineering @Netflix
- Hien Luu, Senior Engineering Manager @Zoox and author of MLOps with Ray
- Khawaja Shams, Co-Founder & CEO @Momento (previously @NASA and @Amazon)
- Suhail Patel, Staff Engineer @Monzo, previously @Citymapper
- Thomas Betts, Senior Laureate Software Architect @Blackbaud
Each session undergoes rigorous evaluation to ensure it prioritizes practitioner needs over commercial intent. QCon is designed for practitioners and by practitioners, creating a genuine platform for sharing knowledge and experience.
Production AI and Data Engineering
With the rise of AI, four dedicated tracks will address the challenges of deploying AI systems in production. One of the highlights includes:
- Architecting for Agents: This track dives into the architectural considerations necessary as autonomous agents become integral to systems, tackling orchestration and emergent behavior.
- Engineering AI Systems: Moving beyond prototypes, this track emphasizes the realities of building, scaling, and maintaining AI-driven systems successfully.
- Guardrails & Safety Nets (Evals) for the New Landscape: This segment focuses on developing evaluation systems, feedback loops, and safety protocols to ensure AI systems operate reliably.
- Data Platforms Reimagined: Participants will explore how modern data platforms are transforming to support both real-time and decentralized requirements, reshaping data flow within organizations.
Architecture and Resilience
Three tracks will delve into system engineering issues that often go overlooked in the fast-paced tech environment:
- Architectures You’ve Always Wondered About: This track uncovers the nuances of well-known systems, exploring their architectures and the decisions that shaped their success.
- Something About Distributed Systems: Attendees will gain insights into real-world experiences of operating distributed systems, with a focus on latency, consistency, and scaling challenges.
- Resilience Engineering: This track will emphasize designing systems that anticipate failure and adapt accordingly, ensuring continued operation under duress.
Platforms and Developer Experience
Another critical aspect of engineering will be addressed in three dedicated tracks that focus on how internal systems can enhance or hinder productivity:
- Real World Platform Engineering: This discussion will focus on balancing standardization with flexibility to develop internal platforms that genuinely benefit engineering teams.
- Developer Experience as a First-Class Architecture Concern: This track amplifies the importance of developer experience in architecture, examining how tooling and workflows influence productivity.
- Modern API Design: Participants will learn how to design APIs that withstand the test of time, ensuring usability and adaptability amidst evolving requirements.
People and Practice
As technology evolves, so do the roles of those who create it. Two tracks will focus on the human aspect of engineering:
- Staff+ Engineering Skills: This track highlights the competencies necessary to thrive at the Staff+ level, covering topics like influencing without authority and driving cross-team technical strategy.
- Code Beyond Engineers & Engineering Teams: This segment explores how the role of coding is expanding into non-traditional areas, emphasizing the implications for teams and overall system architecture.
As QCon 2026 approaches, speakers will be announced on a rolling basis, offering a tantalizing look at the diverse range of topics attendees can expect. With tickets priced at $2,355 and early bird discounts available until May 12th, this event is poised to be a must-attend for those passionate about the future of engineering. Register now at qconsf.com to secure a spot at this influential conference.
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