I am a new L62 at Microsoft. I want to move to a senior role at a different company. Is L6 at Amazon too big of a jump? Levels.fyi says L64 matches L6 at Amazon, and I am looking for something similar to L63. I don't want to consider L5 because it sounds like a lateral move I have seen a lot of people on LinkedIn who went from sde2 to senior at Amazon in around 3 years. I am assuming senior is L6. Also, recruiters reach out to me with Senior roles. Is it safe to assume they mean L6? PS. This isn't about compensation . It's about role and expectations. Don't want to be bite more than I can chew
L5 is sde2, L6 is sde3. Then it’s principal. “Senior” could be L5/6 depending on the role.
Ok. I was curious about this. So when they say senior it does not necessarily means L6? Is there an actual distinction in Sde 2 and a senior L5 in the system (like a 5.5) or is mostly to make L5 employees happy?
To be honest, the hiring manager can make up any title they want. So in some part of the company, there exist director and sr directors who are L6/7, while in most other orgs director has to be L8. Some research scientists call themselves senior at L5. There is no L5.5. If you really want, I can find out what level the job is posted as for you.
You might even get a L4 offer at amazon. They lowball the shit out of everybody.
Truth. Happening to me now
Same boat - in loops for Senior TPM
It all depends on your interview performance and yoe. I'd say you should really nail it to get L6 at Amazon, it is not easy.
98% they will level you at L5. Maybe moving to some other company like google where T4 can mean 61 - 64 is a better bet