November 3, 2025
Landing a remote position with an international company is an exciting milestone in any software engineer's career. It opens doors to challenging projects, competitive compensation, and exposure to different working cultures and technologies. However, succeeding in these roles requires more than technical skills—it demands adaptability, strong communication, and strategic career management.
Whether you're just starting your remote journey or looking to level up your performance, this guide will help you excel as a Mexican engineer working with global teams.
Communication is your most powerful tool when working remotely. Without the benefit of in-person interactions, your ability to clearly express ideas, ask questions, and collaborate effectively determines your success and growth trajectory.
Write with clarity and context. When asking questions or reporting issues on Slack or email, provide sufficient context so teammates can understand the problem without lengthy back-and-forth. Instead of "The API isn't working," write "I'm getting a 500 error when calling the /users endpoint with POST. I've verified the authentication token is valid. Here's the request payload I'm sending..." This approach respects your teammates' time and demonstrates professionalism.
Embrace video calls strategically. While text communication is efficient for many interactions, complex technical discussions or sensitive topics benefit from video calls. Seeing facial expressions and hearing tone provides nuance that text lacks. Don't hesitate to suggest a quick call when a thread becomes confusing—15 minutes of conversation can save hours of misaligned work.
Over-communicate progress and blockers. In remote environments, silence can be misinterpreted as lack of progress or disengagement. Regular updates in standups, project channels, or direct messages keep your team informed and create opportunities for collaboration. If you're blocked on something, say so immediately rather than struggling in silence.
Your technical skills are your foundation, but continuous learning and demonstrable expertise separate good engineers from great ones in competitive remote environments.
Maintain high code quality standards. Write clean, well-documented code that your teammates can easily understand and maintain. Follow the team's style guides, write meaningful commit messages, and include tests. When you submit pull requests, provide context about your approach and highlight any decisions that might benefit from discussion.
Contribute beyond your assigned tasks. Look for opportunities to improve the codebase—refactoring technical debt, improving documentation, optimizing performance, or enhancing developer tooling. These contributions demonstrate ownership and investment in the team's success beyond just completing tickets.
Stay current with technology. The tech industry evolves rapidly, and remote engineers must proactively keep their skills relevant. Dedicate time weekly to learning new technologies, reading technical blogs, or contributing to open source. Share interesting articles or insights with your team—this positions you as someone who brings value beyond execution.
Remote work offers flexibility, but it also requires discipline. Successful remote engineers develop systems that maintain productivity while preserving work-life balance.
Create a dedicated workspace. If possible, designate a specific area in your home for work. This physical separation helps your brain distinguish between work mode and personal time. It doesn't need to be an entire room—a consistent corner with a proper desk and chair makes a significant difference.
Establish consistent routines. Start work at the same time daily, take regular breaks, and protect your deep focus time. Block your calendar for focused coding sessions where you minimize distractions and make significant progress on complex tasks. Most engineers find they do their best work in 2-4 hour blocks of uninterrupted time.
Set boundaries. Remote work can blur the line between professional and personal life. Log off at a reasonable time, avoid checking Slack constantly during off-hours, and take real vacation days. Sustainable remote careers require protecting your mental health and preventing burnout.
Working with international teams, particularly US or Canadian companies, involves adapting to different cultural norms and expectations around work.
Understand communication styles. North American business culture often values directness and explicit communication. Feedback tends to be straightforward, and disagreement is generally acceptable and even encouraged when constructive. Don't interpret direct feedback as personal criticism—it's meant to help you improve.
Embrace autonomy and ownership. Many international companies expect engineers to work independently, proactively identify problems, and propose solutions without extensive hand-holding. Take initiative, make decisions within your scope, and ask for guidance when needed rather than waiting for detailed instructions.
Respect time and deadlines. Punctuality for meetings and meeting deadlines demonstrates professionalism and reliability. If you realize you'll miss a deadline, communicate early so the team can adjust plans. This transparency builds trust far more than last-minute surprises.
Remote positions with international companies offer exceptional opportunities for career development, but growth requires intentional effort.
Seek feedback regularly. Don't wait for formal performance reviews to understand how you're doing. Ask your manager for specific feedback on your work, communication, and areas for improvement. Most managers appreciate engineers who actively seek growth.
Build relationships across the team. Make an effort to connect with colleagues beyond your immediate team. Join optional social calls, engage in non-technical Slack channels, and show genuine interest in your teammates' projects. These relationships create opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and career advancement.
Document your achievements. Keep a running list of your accomplishments—features shipped, problems solved, initiatives led, and impact created. This documentation proves invaluable during performance reviews and when advocating for promotions or raises.
Take on stretch assignments. Volunteer for projects that push you slightly beyond your current comfort zone. Leading a technical initiative, mentoring a junior engineer, or learning a new technology demonstrates ambition and accelerates your growth.
Remote positions with international companies often offer compensation that significantly exceeds local market rates. Strategic financial planning maximizes these opportunities.
Understand your compensation structure. Clarify whether you're paid in US dollars or pesos, how currency fluctuations might affect you, and what benefits are included. Some companies offer health insurance, equipment stipends, or professional development budgets—ensure you understand and utilize these benefits.
Plan for taxes and administration. Working remotely for foreign companies involves navigating tax obligations and possibly operating as an independent contractor. Consider working with an accountant familiar with international remote work to ensure compliance and optimize your financial situation.
Invest in professional development. Allocate some of your increased earnings to courses, conferences, or certifications that advance your career. The investment in your skills pays dividends throughout your career.
While working remotely for international companies, staying engaged with the local tech community provides balance and opportunities.
Attend meetups and conferences. Participate in local tech events to network with peers, share experiences, and stay connected to Mexico's tech ecosystem. These connections often lead to future opportunities or collaborations.
Consider mentoring. As you gain experience working remotely, share your knowledge with engineers starting their journeys. Mentoring enriches the community and reinforces your own understanding.
Contribute to open source. Open source contributions build your reputation, improve your skills, and give back to the developer community globally. Even small contributions matter.
Succeeding as a remote engineer working with international teams is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. Combine technical excellence with strong communication, cultural awareness, and proactive career management. These practices don't just help you survive remote work—they help you thrive and build the international career you envision.
The opportunity to work remotely for global companies while living in Mexico represents a unique moment in tech history. Seize it with professionalism, ambition, and the confidence that your skills and perspective are valuable assets to any team, anywhere in the world.
Your career is yours to build. Make it extraordinary.
