18 Rules for Running a Successful Skunkworks Project at a Large Tech Company

This article distills the author's experience building large-scale software projects at Meta and Confluent, outlining 18 principles for running successful skunkworks projects within large companies. These rules cover team composition, communication styles, incentive structures, and risk management. The core idea is to build a small, highly collaborative, and innovative team, ensuring success through rapid iteration, precise external communication, and results-oriented rewards. The author emphasizes avoiding premature exit from skunkworks mode, valuing individual skills in the context of overall project success rather than individual promotion.