The Software Engineer's Guidebook

CHAPTER 4

PROMOTIONS

Career levels tend to be pretty well defined at tech organizations bigger than a few dozen software engineers. Meanwhile, levels are less important at early-stage companies, but over time it becomes useful to differentiate expectations for an entry-level engineer, a senior engineer, principal level, etc.

Once levels are established at a company, it’s only natural to ask what it takes to get promoted to the next rung on the ladder. In this chapter, we cover:

1. How promotions are decided
2. Promotion processes
3. “Terminal level”
4. Promotions in Big Tech
5. Advice for getting promoted
6. A long-term career view

1. HOW PROMOTIONS ARE DECIDED

When should someone be promoted? The reasons are similar at most companies: ...