Terminal level software engineer Mar 27, 2025 · Software engineers, developers, programmers, and coders perform some overlapping tasks but at different degrees and levels of complexity. Is SDE II the terminal level at Amazon? Also, what does this mean for external hiring? Does it Aug 27, 2021 · Software Engineering Career. They make sure However, if you're debating between L4 (mid-level) and L5 (senior), I'd push for the more senior level: At many companies, L5 (senior) is a terminal level, so you need to get promoted to that level within X months in order to remain at the company. For the purposes of certain perks (e. 97. Here's a quick breakdown: 👶 L1: Entry-level, fresh talent eager to learn. This could also explain why some will max out at senior engineer since not everyone wants to lead a team. See full list on indeed. San Antonio. Jr->mid and mid->senior promos seem to be easier/faster. (L3 and L4 are, by contrast, more "up or out", where if you don't get promoted after long enough you can get fired. Unfortunately level 4 where most people's careers and raises (and stock, from what I hear) come to a screeching halt. They solve problems that few others can and play a critical role in setting team direction. 82 votes, 62 comments. He considered this his terminal level at the company, and was not focused on getting a promotion to the next level, L6. If you are L6 ( or L5, L4) the company is theoretically happy with you performing at that level indefinitely. They are just on different tracks. So: 59 & 60 - Software Engineer 61 & 62 - Software Engineer 2 63 & 64 - Senior Software Engineer 65, 66 & 67 - Principal Software Engineer At staff-level leadership is not optional (or at least, not optional if you want to survive long-term) and that pretty dramatically changes the job. Senior level 5 - 10 years. true. Advancement beyond L6 as an engineer is rare. L4 - 1-5 years of industry experience, sometimes awarded to high potential new grads and PhDs. Over my career I’ve worked with 3 “principal” level engineers (they were the only one in companies with 100+ engineers) and they were absolutely invaluable. ) I actually met an L5 engineer at Google who had been there since 2002. None of my peers are L6 at Google but a few are already E6 at Meta and it is quite achievable. Software engineer 2 (levels 61, 62) - Usually for candidates with a few years of experience. we expect people to get promoted within a certain period, in Google, L4 is a terminal/long-term level where you can stay without needing to progress to the next level, i. Terminal is the only platform that connects you with 100% remote full-time or contract roles, so you can get the best of both worlds: local employment with Silicon Valley opportunities. Mathematicians. At the industry standard level for staff, there is usually a branching into two tracks: IC and management. Promotion from E4 to E5 needs to happen within 33 months (E5 for engineering is the first terminal level; a level you can keep performing well in without needing to advance to remain employed) May 14, 2020 · Most sourcing and hiring Google does goes up to level 6 (or L6). The salaries reflect this: For example, the median total pay for a programmer in the US is $129,000 per year, while the median total pay for a software engineer is $163,000. Here’s a closer look at each role. L5 / Senior Software Engineer. Mar 1, 2021 · tl;dr: The first terminal level! Engineers at this level have demonstrated the ability to own the execution of multi-quarter projects e2e, through active engagement with stakeholders from the L6 can be and in most cases is a terminal level. These figures bring the estimated yearly compensation for entry-level software engineers to $131,214. Sep 24, 2020 · The Terminal Software Engineer Level the software engineers are assigned a level so that they can work hard, and be promoted into next levels in the career ladder. So no, you don't have to keep climbing the ladder. May 14, 2024 · Congratulations on securing an L4 role at Google. g. In fact, at Google and Apple, L4/ICT3 is terminal and they'd be happy to keep you as a mid-level engineer. Sep 29, 2024 · At Meta, entry-level software engineers start at the E3 level and can advance to higher levels like M2 (Software Engineering Manager) or E8 (Principle Software Engineer), depending on their skills and experience. Amazon - Google level mapping . L{n} stands for Level {n}. Oct 11, 2021 · Promotion from level E3 to E4 needs to happen within 24 months. General levels timelines: Entry level 0 - 2 years. Fear not my friend, Senior Engineer is a terminal title. If you convince yourself that there are no rules, you’ll end up misaligned and frustrated. Senior after 3. At this level, scope expands beyond the immediate team and there is an expectation to own delivery of larger, complex projects that cut across many teams within a business function. This can cause frustration about how long it takes to reach the next level. Aside from the fancy title and higher pay (extra ~$120k), you also get to take on more impactful work. L4 - 1-5 years of Oct 30, 2021 · Software Engineering in APAC: Building for Rapid Growth; Curiosity and Passion: Software Engineering at Facebook, Henry B. L7 is typically reserved for managers that manage other managers or engineers that have doctorates and original research in the industry or equivalent. Just for context, at one company I became staff(+) at, the role didn't exist, the level didn't exist, I was already at terminal highest IC level. The only feasible plan I see is for OP to jump from the private sector to government work. Level 2 SWE is kind of entry level, level 3 is mid-career, level 4 is senior. Is L5 a terminal level At large tech companies, senior (L5/E5/ICT4/L6 at Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon) is considered terminal and you don't have to go beyond that to staff+ roles. Sure, but this is standard practice at most places and doesn’t give insight on yoe. 57% of Latin American engineers and 46% of Canadian engineers say equity compensation wasn’t part of their overall compensation packages at all. They told me they have seen people stay at sde2 l61 and l62 level for years. Jan 25, 2024 · Software engineering leaders. com. And yet, 89% of international software engineers say equity At many companies, this is considered a ‘career-level’ or ‘terminal-level’, as in you can spend the rest of your career operating at this level without being Mar 11, 2023 · Software Engineering Career. . no clock. And hey, you can always change your mind later. What’s the minimum bar for yoe to be considered at principal level upon hire for epic? I was told they typically don’t hire principal externally and just hire as L4 and then promote within. Thought-provoking questions. Most companies EXPECT people to work towards senior level or get promoted to senior level, usually after 5+ yoe. 328. Senior Software Engineer Senior Software Engineers are seasoned professionals who play a crucial role in driving technical excellence within their organizations. Job outlook for software engineers Apr 1, 2022 · But non-US-based engineers aren’t getting the same in their compensation packages, according to the State of Remote Engineering report. Directors are between 10-12, and senior software engineers are between 7-9. Mar 15, 2025 · The average salary for entry-level software engineers is $109,121, according to Glassdoor . Jan 1, 2023 · At Meta, entry-level software engineers start at the E3 level and can advance to higher levels like M2 (Software Engineering Manager) or E8 (Principle Software Engineer), depending on their skills and experience. 🎓 L2: Junior Engineers with 1-3 years of experience, growing in independence. Saw some guy at Instagram. , capacity) Craftsmanship: Often digs into low-level details, especially in code. So L4 = level 4 E{n} stands for Engineer {n}. The terminal Level concept was one where all Software Engineers are expected to perform in an upward trajectory toward the standards of the next Tech Level, until reaching Tech Level 5. 4d. Meta Strict on YOE for Levels . Failed Amazon OA for SDE-II. By focusing on these areas, interviewers can identify individuals who are not only proficient in coding but also capable of maintaining high standards of Jun 11, 2024 · Synonyms: Software Engineer II, E4, Engineer II, Mid-Level Engineer. But it’s meant to be challenging: at most tech companies the senior engineering level is considered a terminal one! 2. Dec 21, 2022 · What are the expectations of senior and principal software engineers. Microsoft is very frugal when compared to other Big Tech companies. Aug 15, 2022 · 一些 startup title 膨胀给工作两年的人 senior 但是给的是 L2 的工资在我这里不当成 L3。大多数 individual contributor（IC） 的 terminal level。 L4：Staff level，Amazon 还是 SDE III，Meta E6，Google L6。很多公司除非特例的话会建议这个 level 再转 manager。 May 14, 2020 · Most sourcing and hiring Google does goes up to level 6 (or L6). Some people can coast at mid level at some companies, for quite a Jul 25, 2023 · However, many engineers don’t realize the pace of promotions slows drastically after the senior engineer level. Junior is not a terminal level. SN Parents. Literally started out there basically and staff within 4 years. 3. Compared to Meta, where IC4 / L4 is at the transient level, i. e. Mar 28, 2019 · What levels in engineering are terminal levels in these big companies: fb, amzn, appl, msft, goog? Software engineering leaders. This means there is no pressure to continue to grow past this point. Also worth keeping in mind that senior is the terminal level for most engineers. Man reading a lot of these comments I’m starting to think I have a really warped view of the industry. Mid level 2 - 5 years. It’s not a bad thing at all to remain as L6 for a very long time as an engineer. I would second this. Beyond that, very real chance that the new level becomes your terminal level due to how the scope changes w/ each level vs Peter principle. In contrast, Google designates its entry-level software engineers as L3. As titled, I've been working for 6 years at Meta now. L2 - Software Engineering Intern, usually in senior year of a four year degree program. Software Engineers are expected to be promotable up to Level 5, and after reaching L5, there is no longer an "up or out" expectation. Product Management Career. I. They ultimately created two new IC titles at the same level, one for "more senior principal", one for "staff", I was the first person promoted to Staff, I helped write what the level would be on the Nov 17, 2024 · I would consider this a terminal level for some engineers. Looking at levels fyi, average senior software engineer TC at Microsoft is 230k. What the fuck? Maybe I’m just a horrible engineer but I feel like after 2 years at my company I can barely work autonomously, let alone telling people with any kind of authority how things should be done or architecting a system. 🛠️ L3: Mid-level engineers, 3-5 It takes solid 5 - 10 years to develop senior level experiences. Some people even come in at level 4 if they come in with experience. It’s surprisingly common to see folks at terminal level get lost pursuing technically interesting work or “fun” technologies. So, an E6 at Meta, for example, is at the same "level" as an M1 (Manager 1). Each level has a specific salary or wage, different skill sets, responsibilities, criteria, and value. Meanwhile that's the TC apple, amazon, and meta pay their mid level software engineers. Before you reach that terminal level, you are expected to show an upward trajectory. , 1 extra week of PTO), senior software engineers are considered "management" and are allowed to have direct reports, so "assistant directors" are between 7-9 like the SSEs are. L5 is considered a "terminal" position, in the sense that once you get to that level you're no longer expected to get promoted. Example: The software engineer was promoted to L5. Technical direction for small # of Engineers 0-5+ Leads design and provides constant day-to-day mentorship on technical direction for team) Complexity: 1-2 quarter projects; mitigates against single risks at a time (e. Sep 8, 2020 · Or are companies generally fine with them staying at the senior level forever? They were feeling stressed about having to move up and loved the callout that Staying senior forever is the norm. Here are the major differences between L5 and L6: Once you reached that level or above, there is no strong expectations that you reach the next level. Gain insights into unique terminologies, terminal levels, and the choice between Manager and Individual Contributor tracks, essential for informed career planning in the tech industry. L3 - Full time, entry level Software Engineer, also known as the “new grad level”. com Nov 1, 2023 · Explore software engineer career paths at FAANG companies with this guide detailing job levels, salaries, years of experience (YoE), and advancement options. Like software engineer II. Aug 18, 2023 · Staff Engineers (L6) are at the same level as engineering managers. Nov 17, 2021 · After reaching the terminal level, the key thing to remember is that the road’s still there, it’s just unlabeled. Most never make it to staff, for one reason or another. L4 gets in the murky world of “staff” engineering. 28M per year for L9. This can be expanded as well. Senior software engineers can lead teams, but it’s not a requirement. Behavioral questions will focus on learning skills, collaboration, etc. Then I guess L6 is the new Apr 17, 2022 · I was talking to a senior software engineer at Microsoft. Anecdotally average timeline appears to be around 3-4 years for first promo assuming you joined as L5. Apply to System Engineer, Senior Design Engineer, Application Support Engineer and more! Level up your career and your lifestyle with exclusive full-time or contract engineering roles. In my opinion, Google is a great place to learn to be excellent engineers. What’s the difference between roles and compensation and typical wlb? How long does it typically take to promote from to one of these roles let’s say from L59 TC 300k 3 days ago · Software Engineer compensation in United States at Google ranges from $186K per year for L3 to $2. Currently a E5 senior engineer here but I'm craving a return to the days of being a junior dev (E3 E4 level) for improved work-life balance. There are many L5 engineers in Big Tech. It's pretty achievable to get promoted quickly up to level 4. Dec 22, 2020 · Microsoft has two engineering leveling systems? Ic4 ic5 etc and the standard 65,66,67 What is the terminal level for engineering managers? So we are talking apples to apples, we will use the most common manager leveling scheme: EM I, EM II, Senior Engineering Manager, Director, Senior Director Dec 21, 2019 · 说说软件工程师的职位头衔(Title)和级别 相反，互联网大厂, FANG (Facebook, Amazon, Neflix, Google) 这些招人就是 Software Engineer, 只不过级别不同，比如 Amazon的Software Development Engineer L4 就是刚毕业一两年的软件工程师, L6 就是 Senior 级别的工程师。 Aug 11, 2023 · Senior engineer (L5) is the first level that big tech recognizes as a “terminal” level. L4 - The Staff Engineer Scope. They lead major initiatives and influence the engineering culture of teams around them. Investments in EU. They possess deep domain knowledge and are instrumental in architecting scalable, robust software solutions. These levels highlight the experience and expertise of an individual, ranging from junior or trainee engineers to senior software engineer roles. It can depend on the company but I’ve found that staff software engineer is fairly similar to a lead software engineer. Software engineer (levels 59, 60) - Usually for new college candidates that Microsoft hires for potential. So coming in at L5 may actually be less stress. View the base salary, stock, and bonus breakdowns for Google's total compensation packages. , Software Engineer, Business Integrity; Business Support Platform: They redefine the support experience across all Meta business products, making it available, effective and effortless for all businesses. This is where you are no longer expected to get promoted to the next level (staff software engineer), and also where significant career progression stops for the The levels for a software engineer start at 59 with the title (with some small amount of variance Software Engineer, and each 2 levels is a title change. In Big5: Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook, the software engineers are assigned a level so that they can work hard, and be promoted into next levels in the career ladder. Mar 17, 2025 · The career path of software engineers can be divided into different levels. Aug 22, 2022 · It is important to understand that the mapping between yoe and level only works up to the terminal level, which is typically senior software engineer or staff software engineer. ICT{n} stands for Individual Contributor track. Entry-level software engineers also report an average additional pay of $22,093 per year. I really think L6 is the terminal level 3,076 Terminal Engineer jobs available on Indeed. Promotion from E4 to E5 needs to happen within 33 months (E5 for engineering is the first terminal level; a level you can keep performing well in without needing to advance to remain employed) Feb 5, 2025 · YOE expectation for principal engineer at Epic Games. My understanding is that l64 is terminal level . No one is going keep an engineer that can’t grow beyond “junior” nor hire an applicant with 15yoe that ends up leveling at “junior”. The equivalent to full doctor for software engineers. The median yearly compensation in United States package totals $290K. 3d. 6 days ago · At Google, the terminal level is L4 so there's no pressure to promote. Variations: job terminal level, terminal level for a role G4 / G6 -> Entry level engineer G8 -> senior software engineer G10 -> lead software engineer G11 -> technical leader G12 -> senior technical leader G13 -> Principal engineer G? -> distinguished engineer May 22, 2024 · These software engineer interview questions are crafted to evaluate a candidate’s technical acumen, problem-solving skills, and ability to apply best practices in software development. 582. Engineering Levels Overview. tnrwjt tqzwr pqluho xxxzuiz ukjdwos gfboc osp hwg aimtc rkadnp vezfcol yluayh kgzqt jwguld cfcu