Five Principles for Outstanding Engineers: Lu Qi’s Engineering Leadership Talk

On July 11, Lu Qi, a Ph.D. in computer science and senior Baidu leader, delivered an internal Engineering Leadership Talk, presenting five core requirements that apply to every Baidu engineer.

1. Believe in Technology – Lu emphasized that a steadfast belief that technology drives the world is crucial, citing Bill Gates’ view that software represents the future and noting that all industries are becoming software‑centric.

2. Innovate on the Shoulders of Giants – He argued that rapid innovation stems from leveraging existing code modules and services, urging engineers to check whether a problem has already been solved before writing new code, thereby focusing effort on higher‑value innovation.

3. Pursue Engineering Excellence – Lu likened engineering excellence to building the strongest army, where each soldier (engineer) must be highly trained and equipped with world‑class tools, creating sustainable competitive advantage for the company and society.

4. Daily Learning – He stressed that continuous, broad learning is essential; engineers should view themselves as evolving software, improving with each version, and must study beyond computer science—such as economics, physics, biology—to deepen problem‑solving capabilities.

5. Ownership – Lu called for proactive ownership: seize opportunities without waiting for others, fix problems directly, and treat the company’s mission as one’s personal mission, which accelerates career growth.

He concluded by reminding engineers that Baidu’s mission is to simplify a complex world through technology, reducing entropy and improving lives, and that achieving this requires the combined practice of belief in technology, innovative leverage, engineering excellence, daily learning, and ownership.