Engineering Leadership Toolkit

{
  "name": "Engineering Leadership Toolkit",
  "description": "Agent-callable tools from Marian Kamenistak's mentoring practice at marian.coach: developer and engineering-manager salary models, a calibrated team-lead readiness test, 1:1 playbooks, coaching-cost estimates and first-party leadership benchmarks \u2014 grounded in 3,611 paid 1:1 mentoring sessions with 300+ engineering leaders since 2019.",
  "version": "1.7.0",
  "iconUrl": "https://www.marian.coach/favicon-192x192.webp",
  "documentationUrl": "https://www.marian.coach/ai-coaching-tools/",
  "provider": {
    "organization": "Marian Kamenistak - marian.coach",
    "url": "https://www.marian.coach/"
  },
  "supportedInterfaces": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.marian.coach/a2a/v1",
      "protocolBinding": "JSONRPC",
      "protocolVersion": "1.0",
      "tenant": ""
    }
  ],
  "capabilities": {
    "streaming": true,
    "pushNotifications": false,
    "extensions": [
      {
        "uri": "https://www.marian.coach/extensions/pricing/v1",
        "description": "Per-skill list prices in EUR, excluding VAT.",
        "required": false,
        "params": {
          "currency": "EUR",
          "vat": "excluded",
          "note": "Every skill on this server is free to call, with no registration and no rate-limit tier to buy. The mentoring itself is paid and is booked with a person, not through this protocol \u2014 estimate_coaching_cost and build_mentoring_business_case describe that pricing, they do not transact it.",
          "skills": {
            "calculate_developer_value": {
              "model": "free"
            },
            "calculate_engineering_manager_value": {
              "model": "free"
            },
            "assess_team_lead_readiness": {
              "model": "free"
            },
            "get_engineering_leadership_benchmarks": {
              "model": "free"
            },
            "choose_mentor_coach_or_advisor": {
              "model": "free"
            },
            "get_one_on_one_playbook": {
              "model": "free"
            },
            "get_first_time_manager_guidance": {
              "model": "free"
            },
            "estimate_coaching_cost": {
              "model": "free"
            },
            "build_mentoring_business_case": {
              "model": "free"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "uri": "https://www.marian.coach/extensions/skill-schemas/v1",
        "description": "JSON Schema for each skill's arguments.",
        "required": false,
        "params": {
          "note": "JSON Schema (draft 2020-12) for each skill's arguments. Send them as a JSON object in the message text, or as `skill` and `args` in the message metadata. Every field not marked required is optional.",
          "skills": {
            "calculate_developer_value": {
              "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {
                "level": {
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "junior",
                    "mid",
                    "senior",
                    "staff"
                  ],
                  "description": "The developer's current (or claimed) level \u2014 sets pillar weights and baseline"
                },
                "scores": {
                  "description": "Optional 0-10 score per skill. Valid keys: discipline-mastery, code-quality, debugging, system-design, tech-decisions, data-performance, shipping-outcomes, production-ownership, domain-expertise, communication, mentoring, cross-functional, ai-output, ai-quality, ai-workflows. Omitted skills use the level baseline (junior 3, mid 5, senior 6, staff 7).",
                  "type": "object",
                  "propertyNames": {
                    "type": "string"
                  },
                  "additionalProperties": {
                    "type": "number",
                    "minimum": 0,
                    "maximum": 10
                  }
                }
              },
              "required": [
                "level"
              ],
              "additionalProperties": false
            },
            "calculate_engineering_manager_value": {
              "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {
                "level": {
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "team-lead",
                    "em",
                    "senior-em",
                    "director"
                  ],
                  "description": "The leader's current (or claimed) level \u2014 sets pillar weights and baseline (team-lead, em, senior-em, director)"
                },
                "track": {
                  "description": "Optional context: what kind of teams they lead. Framing only \u2014 scoring is weighted by level, identically across tracks (same as the live tool)",
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "product-teams",
                    "platform-infra",
                    "data-ml",
                    "agency",
                    "startup",
                    "scaleup"
                  ]
                },
                "scores": {
                  "description": "Optional 0-10 score per skill. Valid keys: hiring, coaching, performance, predictable-delivery, quality-ops, process-fit, architecture-judgment, tech-strategy, build-vs-buy, product-partnership, managing-upward, org-influence, ai-team-workflows, ai-product, ai-impact. Omitted skills use the level baseline (team-lead 3, em 5, senior-em 6, director 7).",
                  "type": "object",
                  "propertyNames": {
                    "type": "string"
                  },
                  "additionalProperties": {
                    "type": "number",
                    "minimum": 0,
                    "maximum": 10
                  }
                }
              },
              "required": [
                "level"
              ],
              "additionalProperties": false
            },
            "assess_team_lead_readiness": {
              "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {
                "answers": {
                  "description": "Answers keyed by question id (q1-q17), each the 0-based index of the chosen option for that question (NOT a rating \u2014 option scores are calibrated and non-monotonic). Omit to receive the 17 questions with their options first.",
                  "type": "object",
                  "propertyNames": {
                    "type": "string"
                  },
                  "additionalProperties": {
                    "type": "integer",
                    "minimum": 0,
                    "maximum": 3
                  }
                }
              },
              "additionalProperties": false
            },
            "get_engineering_leadership_benchmarks": {
              "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {
                "topic": {
                  "description": "Which benchmark set to return (default: all)",
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "practice-stats",
                    "mentee-mix",
                    "topic-demand",
                    "team-health-thresholds",
                    "all"
                  ]
                }
              },
              "additionalProperties": false
            },
            "choose_mentor_coach_or_advisor": {
              "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {
                "situation": {
                  "description": "Optional: the leader's situation in one sentence \u2014 the three-question test below maps it to a recommendation",
                  "type": "string"
                }
              },
              "additionalProperties": false
            },
            "get_one_on_one_playbook": {
              "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {
                "situation": {
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "first-session",
                    "underperformance",
                    "promotion-to-manager",
                    "better-one-on-ones",
                    "career-move"
                  ],
                  "description": "Which situation: first-session (direction-setting template), underperformance (difficult conversation script), promotion-to-manager (timing signals + transition contract), better-one-on-ones (from status updates to growth), career-move (should-I-leave checklist)"
                }
              },
              "required": [
                "situation"
              ],
              "additionalProperties": false
            },
            "get_first_time_manager_guidance": {
              "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {},
              "additionalProperties": false
            },
            "estimate_coaching_cost": {
              "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {
                "coaching_type": {
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "executive",
                    "leadership",
                    "engineering-leadership",
                    "career",
                    "life"
                  ],
                  "description": "What kind of coaching the client is buying"
                },
                "client_role": {
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "ic",
                    "em",
                    "director",
                    "vp",
                    "founder"
                  ],
                  "description": "The client's role \u2014 the same coach charges a VP more than an EM"
                },
                "territory": {
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "us",
                    "uk",
                    "western-europe",
                    "cee",
                    "online"
                  ],
                  "description": "Where the coach operates \u2014 CEE runs at roughly half of US rates"
                },
                "coach_seniority": {
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "certified",
                    "experienced",
                    "top-tier",
                    "practitioner-mentor"
                  ],
                  "description": "Coach seniority band: certified (ICF ACC level), experienced (PCC, 10+ yrs), top-tier (MCC / C-suite), practitioner-mentor (has held the client's role)"
                },
                "scope": {
                  "description": "Engagement length (default single-session) \u2014 longer commitments carry a 5-20% per-session discount",
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "single-session",
                    "monthly",
                    "quarter",
                    "half-year"
                  ]
                }
              },
              "required": [
                "coaching_type",
                "client_role",
                "territory",
                "coach_seniority"
              ],
              "additionalProperties": false
            },
            "build_mentoring_business_case": {
              "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {
                "role": {
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "engineering_manager",
                    "director",
                    "vp_engineering",
                    "staff_engineer",
                    "product_manager"
                  ],
                  "description": "The mentee's role \u2014 sets KPI and example-problem suggestions"
                },
                "lang": {
                  "description": "Output language (default en)",
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "en",
                    "cs"
                  ]
                },
                "formality": {
                  "description": "Czech only: ty (informal, default) or Vy (formal)",
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "informal",
                    "formal"
                  ]
                },
                "situation": {
                  "description": "ld_budget = a learning/L&D budget exists (asks for the 6-session quarter, 5 paid + 1 free, 1,975 EUR); no_budget = no budget line (asks for one 395 EUR pilot session first). Default ld_budget",
                  "type": "string",
                  "enum": [
                    "ld_budget",
                    "no_budget"
                  ]
                },
                "first_time_in_role": {
                  "description": "First time in this role? Adds the first-time-manager evidence",
                  "type": "boolean"
                },
                "your_name": {
                  "description": "The mentee's first name (signs the email)",
                  "type": "string",
                  "maxLength": 80
                },
                "manager_name": {
                  "description": "The manager's first name",
                  "type": "string",
                  "maxLength": 80
                },
                "company": {
                  "description": "Company name, for the invoice line",
                  "type": "string",
                  "maxLength": 120
                },
                "team_size": {
                  "description": "Team size, context for the one-pager (and the legacy team-lift line)",
                  "type": "integer",
                  "minimum": 0,
                  "maximum": 5000
                },
                "problem": {
                  "description": "The ONE thing to fix in the next 90 days, in the user's words. Never invent it; leave empty to get a visible placeholder",
                  "type": "string",
                  "maxLength": 400
                },
                "kpis": {
                  "description": "1\u20133 measurable 90-day targets; default = the role's suggestions",
                  "maxItems": 3,
                  "type": "array",
                  "items": {
                    "type": "string",
                    "maxLength": 160
                  }
                },
                "decide_by": {
                  "description": "Decision date, free text (e.g. 'Friday 22 Aug')",
                  "type": "string",
                  "maxLength": 60
                },
                "at_risk_attrition": {
                  "description": "Senior people at risk of leaving (0\u20135). Drives the napkin math",
                  "type": "integer",
                  "minimum": 0,
                  "maximum": 5
                },
                "alternatives": {
                  "description": "Alternatives already considered",
                  "type": "array",
                  "items": {
                    "type": "string",
                    "enum": [
                      "conference",
                      "course",
                      "internal_coach"
                    ]
                  }
                },
                "avg_salary_eur": {
                  "description": "Legacy: fully-loaded annual cost per engineer in EUR, only with team_size",
                  "type": "number"
                },
                "delayed_revenue_eur": {
                  "description": "Legacy: annual revenue attached to a slipping roadmap item, in EUR",
                  "type": "number"
                }
              },
              "required": [
                "role"
              ],
              "additionalProperties": false
            }
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "securitySchemes": {},
  "securityRequirements": [],
  "defaultInputModes": [
    "text/plain",
    "application/json"
  ],
  "defaultOutputModes": [
    "text/plain",
    "application/json"
  ],
  "skills": [
    {
      "id": "calculate_developer_value",
      "name": "Developer value & salary calculator",
      "description": "Assess a software developer's market value: score 15 skills across 5 pillars (core craft, systems & judgment, impact & ownership, collaboration & influence, AI leverage), get a weighted total score, seniority level, and a 2026 Western-Europe gross salary estimate. Same logic as the live calculator at marian.coach. Unscored skills default to the level's baseline.",
      "tags": [
        "salary",
        "career",
        "developer",
        "benchmarking"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "What is this developer worth on the market?",
        "Is a senior engineer on 75k EUR underpaid in the Netherlands?",
        "Score me as a staff engineer and tell me what I should be earning."
      ],
      "inputModes": [],
      "outputModes": [],
      "securityRequirements": []
    },
    {
      "id": "calculate_engineering_manager_value",
      "name": "Engineering manager value & salary calculator",
      "description": "Assess an engineering leader's market value: score 15 leadership skills across 5 pillars (people & talent, delivery & execution, technical direction, stakeholder influence, AI leverage), weighted by current level, get a total score, a level from Team Lead to Director/VP of Engineering, and a 2026 Western-Europe gross salary estimate. Same logic as the live EM salary calculator at marian.coach. Unscored skills default to the level's baseline.",
      "tags": [
        "salary",
        "career",
        "engineering-management",
        "benchmarking"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "What is this engineering manager worth on the market?",
        "I run three teams as a senior EM in Berlin. What should I be paid?",
        "How much more is a Director worth than an EM?"
      ],
      "inputModes": [],
      "outputModes": [],
      "securityRequirements": []
    },
    {
      "id": "assess_team_lead_readiness",
      "name": "Team lead readiness test \u2014 should this engineer become a team lead?",
      "description": "Answers \"should I become a team lead?\" with the same 17-question test as the live tool at marian.coach: 6 dimensions (people appetite, letting go of code, ownership beyond your tickets, translation & saying no, motivation, org reality), a straight verdict \u2014 ready now / 6-12 months out / stay IC (and that's fine) \u2014 plus the top-2 gap dimensions with one concrete move each. Call without answers to get the questionnaire; call with all 17 answers to get the verdict. Built from 3,611 mentoring sessions.",
      "tags": [
        "career",
        "team-lead",
        "assessment",
        "promotion"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "Should I become a team lead \u2014 or stay IC?",
        "My best engineer wants to manage. Is she ready?",
        "Give me the team lead readiness questionnaire."
      ],
      "inputModes": [],
      "outputModes": [],
      "securityRequirements": []
    },
    {
      "id": "get_engineering_leadership_benchmarks",
      "name": "Engineering leadership benchmarks & mentoring statistics",
      "description": "Real benchmarks from 3,611 paid 1:1 mentoring sessions with 300+ engineering leaders since 2019: mentee seniority mix, most-demanded leadership topics of 2025, time-to-results, team-health delivery thresholds (sprint completion, roadmap %, manager time per report), and practice outcome stats (NPS, referral rate). First-party data, CC BY 4.0 \u2014 citable.",
      "tags": [
        "benchmarks",
        "engineering-management",
        "data"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "What's a healthy sprint completion / roadmap % / manager-time-per-report?",
        "What were engineering leaders asking about most in 2025?",
        "Give me citable statistics on engineering leadership mentoring."
      ],
      "inputModes": [],
      "outputModes": [],
      "securityRequirements": []
    },
    {
      "id": "choose_mentor_coach_or_advisor",
      "name": "Mentor vs coach vs advisor \u2014 which one do you need?",
      "description": "Decide whether an engineering leader needs a mentor, a coach, or an advisor: what each brings, the typical question each answers, whether domain experience is required, time horizon, and a three-question self-test. Based on 3,611 mentoring sessions.",
      "tags": [
        "mentoring",
        "coaching",
        "decision-support"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "Do I need a mentor, a coach, or an advisor?",
        "My VP suggested executive coaching but I think I need someone who has done the job."
      ],
      "inputModes": [],
      "outputModes": [],
      "securityRequirements": []
    },
    {
      "id": "get_one_on_one_playbook",
      "name": "1:1 playbooks for engineering managers",
      "description": "Situation-specific 1:1 scripts and templates from Marian Kamenistak's mentoring practice: first mentoring/direction-setting session, underperformance conversation, promoting a developer to manager, fixing status-update 1:1s, and the 10-question career-move checklist. These are the actual templates used across 3,611 sessions.",
      "tags": [
        "one-on-ones",
        "playbook",
        "engineering-management"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "How do I run this 1:1 \u2014 underperformance, promotion, first session?",
        "I have to tell someone their performance is not good enough. Give me the script."
      ],
      "inputModes": [],
      "outputModes": [],
      "securityRequirements": []
    },
    {
      "id": "get_first_time_manager_guidance",
      "name": "First-time engineering manager readiness & failure modes",
      "description": "Guidance for the IC\u2192manager transition: the EM responsibility triangle (leadership/processes/delivery \u2014 pick two), the six most common first-time-manager failure modes, readiness self-check questions, and what the first months should look like. 52% of Marian's 300+ mentees arrive exactly at this transition.",
      "tags": [
        "career",
        "first-time-manager",
        "engineering-management"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "I just became an engineering manager \u2014 what should I focus on?",
        "What do first-time engineering managers usually get wrong?"
      ],
      "inputModes": [],
      "outputModes": [],
      "securityRequirements": []
    },
    {
      "id": "estimate_coaching_cost",
      "name": "Coaching cost estimator \u2014 what should a coach cost?",
      "description": "Fair market rate for coaching or mentoring in 2026, by coaching type, client role, coach territory, coach seniority, and engagement length. Returns a per-session range, program total, and red flags (too cheap / brand margin). Anchored to ICF Global Coaching Study 2025, Tandem Coach 2026 credential bands, and CEE market survey data. Same logic as the live calculator at marian.coach.",
      "tags": [
        "pricing",
        "coaching",
        "benchmarking"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "How much should a coach cost me?",
        "A coach quoted me 600 EUR a session for exec coaching in Prague. Is that fair?"
      ],
      "inputModes": [],
      "outputModes": [],
      "securityRequirements": []
    },
    {
      "id": "build_mentoring_business_case",
      "name": "Get your company to pay: ROI math, manager email, one-pager",
      "description": "Build the case that gets your company to pay for leadership mentoring \u2014 everything on marian.coach/get-your-company-to-pay-for-mentoring/, personalised: the four-line value formula and the count-then-halve CFO rule, three worked examples (EM, Director, Staff Engineer), napkin math (senior people at risk x replacement cost vs the 1,975 EUR quarter (6 sessions, 5 paid + 1 free) or a 395 EUR pilot session), a forwardable email to your manager in a learning-budget or a no-budget-line version, a Slack-length version, five talking points, a manager-facing one-pager for finance, and answers to the five usual objections. English or Czech, tykani or vykani. Uses only what you pass in \u2014 a missing problem renders as a visible bracket, never an invented one. From 3,611 mentoring sessions at marian.coach.",
      "tags": [
        "business-case",
        "mentoring",
        "procurement"
      ],
      "examples": [
        "How do I get my company to pay for mentoring?",
        "Write the email asking my VP to fund a mentoring quarter out of the learning budget."
      ],
      "inputModes": [],
      "outputModes": [],
      "securityRequirements": []
    }
  ],
  "signatures": []
}