Folks at waymo or Google, what is the general duration people spend at L5 before getting promoted to L6? I understand the scope at L6 is much broader and the expectation is that you bring projects and lead the execution to completion. But wanted to know how long do people take to make this jump? What's the likelihood of such jumps? How many people need to bless such promo packets? TC: 320k (thanks to over performing lyft stock) YoE: 6 years #software #promotion #swe
Only 10% of L5 engineers make it to L6. It takes 3.5 years on average for those who make it. As an L6, you’re setting the direction for a team of 50 folks more or less. Plus you’re considered the expert in your area so other teams consult you. You don’t get to L6 by churning out a ton of code. It takes calculated risk and a ton of luck (apart from technical expertise)
Good info.
Are these Google or Waymo stats? Setting the direction for a team of 50 folks doesn't match what I've seen of L6's or even L7's in Google nor in Waymo. Seen plenty of pretty focused IC's at L6 and L7 in both companies, or middle managers. Anyway, the sentiment is true that there are qualitative distinctions between 5 and 6. It's not a matter of time, or effort. More like thinking outside the box, being strategic, taking risks, and of course a bit of luck. (Though if the opportunity isn't there you should move somewhere where there is opportunity.) That's just my impression. I'm currently working on 5-->6 at Waymo, so maybe I'll have a different opinion when I make it or when I give up.
Also got an offer. Dmed you.
Google is great, but definitely consider whatever level you get hired into there terminal. Even 4-5 often takes several years. The 5-6s I saw were all 3+ years. I'd recommend asking yourself if you'd be happy not getting promoted (still getting refreshers and raises) at all. The plus side of this is that generally the senior and staff engineers at Google are exceptionally good.
How different is it to move from 5 to 6 at Google compared to what you've seen at lyft?
I think it's a bit easier here to go from 5-6, and a lot easier to go from 4-5. I think it's mostly that Google is very conservative - they'd rather see you perform at a level for a while, while Lyft is more willing to take a chance on someone. Google might say that a person has been performing at the next level for a year, so let's promote them, while Lyft might say that I have a strong evidence this person is capable of performing at the next level, so let's promote them. Different stages of company is all. I left Google ultimately because of frustration over how hard it is to get promos: 5-6 felt impossible, and other places were offering me staff+ roles. The most recent staff promo I saw there was a very high performing person with a PhD who had been at Google for 8 years. That said, the work itself was good, and the pay was great - if I wasn't so focused on growing my scope of ownership, I think I'd still be there.
Many never make it to 6. It’s very very hard at G/Waymo. If you’re lucky, maybe 4-5 years.
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Did you get an offer?
Yes. Still deciding amongst a few other options.
6yoe to L5 is great, congrats, are you swe?