Our reading notes

Software Engineering Ladders

An explicit career model spanning developers, tech leads, program managers, and engineering managers.

The idea to take with you

Progression can be discussed through different kinds of contribution and scope instead of a single vague notion of seniority.

What to look for

  1. 01

    Distinguish technical knowledge, system ownership, people, process, and influence.

  2. 02

    Make different career tracks visible.

  3. 03

    Use the framework as a conversation starter and adapt it to real work.

Keep in mind

Level names and charts are specific to this framework. A diagram does not provide objective numerical precision about someone’s performance.

Put it to work

Try this next

Choose two neighboring levels and write examples of work at each in your company. Remove distinctions you cannot explain through actual responsibilities.

Get the career growth template

Notes and exercises by Awesome CTO. The original work belongs to Jorge Fioranelli.

Work through the bigger question.

Our career growth guide connects the reading to a practical approach and a template.

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