Understanding Google L7 TLM role
I am wondering if anybody can help me understand more about this role at Google. I have been told that things are very "bottom up" at Google compared to Amazon, that engineers have immense autonomy, that in this role I am more providing career and technical guidance while still being able to contribute technically to the overall org because managerial time demands are modest (this sounds like crazy talk coming from Amazon). Apparently this role would still be managing managers (org size slightly smaller than current but not hugely different). How different really is the L7 TLM role at Google from a Sr. SDM at Amazon? Do most L6 TLMs report to an L7? I am on track toward a director role at Amazon and am concerned that it will be a slower path at Google. I am certain Google WLB would be better but that is a bit secondary to me. I am not interested in being an L7 for life anywhere. TC is comparable between roles. We can call it approximately 750k to keep things simple.
If you are on the path to director, I would recommend you move at that time. Can you share tc breakdown.
I dont know about amazon sdm role. But what you described about L7 tlm role above seems correct. Engineers have lot of autonomy, but at L7, you still have lot of influence in what your team focusses on. Management overhead i agree is light in google. You definitely need to be able to make technical contributions, but if you will have L6 tlms under you, your technical work will be to just review high level design docs, and also write lot of vision/strategy docs. You wont need to code in most teams. Note that exact details vary from team to team. Search for example is IC heavy org, and L7 tlm there do code, and lead L5-6 ICs. L8 in google is director, and is very hard to reach. Assume that you will take a long time to reach that level. Ofcourse it depends on the opportunity, your skills and many things.
I'm reading that in google TLM is also a people manager, IE 1:1s and responsible for people. Is that the same as SDM in terms of people? If so, does SDM basically have it easier than TLM because TLM has technical and people but SDM only has people?
Tlm is both, people manager and technical work. The people part is same as SDM. I dont know about easier, because people work in google is light. Most people are quite independent. The way i think, is tlm allows you to do both, thats quite cool.
What does Engg manager do, if TLM manages people.
You dont have both tlm and eng mgr for the same team. Can only get 1. Depending on the team/PA in google, they choose tlm or eng manager. Another thing is, most internal IC to manager moves are to tlm, not eng mgr
Projects will have a TL and teams will have a manager. If it's the same person, they are a TLM.
If you are on track to L8 at Amazon, you should wait. It can take years to go from L7 to L8 at Google. Average is 4-5.
This is my biggest concern. Not worth a modest comp boost (signing bonus, those sweet Google refreshers a year out) if I can make L8 here within a year or two.
Yes. You'll get a load of stock when you hit L8 at AWS
YOE and .org size?
One thing I heard is that Google underlevels a lot. Unless you are already an L8 at Amazon, you may not get a chance as L7 at G. So if you are an L7 at Amazon, most likely you will be offered L6 at G, quoting some BS about "not getting a signal" about L7 management experience. Might be because of the compband comment, I did hear of a few L8s from Amazon ending up as L7s at G.
OP, did you accept the offer from G?
Is there a difference between L6/L7 TLM and L6/L7 SDM at G?
What does L6, L7 at google correspond to in terms of job titles like principal, director etc?
Can you share your org size / number of directs and the technical / people management split in your role? I'm also curious about the questions you've asked.