Is it possible to go from MS L64 to AZ L7? What does it take to make it happen? YoE: 6 after PhD
From what I heard from my friends, Amazon L7 is much more demanding than say Microsoft L65. I have also heard of cases when L64s interviewing for L6 ended up getting L5 positions. If your yoe is less than 10 years or so it might be extremely difficult to even get an interview call for L7. But in case you get a call for L7 make sure to do extremely well in design and leadership rounds to stand any chance.
6 YoE and you want L7? You’d hardly get L6 . If you blow up your interviews, you’d get decent L6. L7 is extremely unlikely.
Yes this is possible, maybe first get promoted 2 more times at Microsoft.
Thanks. Sounds like a good idea.
6 YOEs mostly get L5. L6 pretty much impossible unless you do extremely well on the design rounds. L7 needs 10-15+ YOE and needing to be subject matter expert and all kinds of org-level leadership and delivery experiences. L7 engineers are pretty rare at Amazon and many engineers who stay here all their life don't get there. Edit: Having a PhD might increase chances of getting L6, but L7 still needs that big-scale leadership experience since it is not just an engineering role.
Got it. Thanks!
The chance is next to zero. AFAIK there are only 100-ish L7 engineers in the whole company, and this position requires much more than just tech knowledge and a phd. I'd say at best performance in interview you'll land a L6.
All comments here are accurate in terms of the high L7 bar. To be considered, one should carry a whole lot body of work. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t make it. At some companies, principal bar is higher than Amazon’s principal so these things are relative.
Thanks for responding. This is helpful
I made that move 2 months ago, but I’m not in engineering and I had 22 years experience.
MSFT L64 == AMZN mid-L6
I know this, but is leveling up from 64 to L7 possible? How?