roles
Staff Software Engineer
Primary Role:
High-leverage IC solving cross-team technical problems
Reporting Relations:
Reports to EM/Director
Decision Making Authority:
Architecture decisions across teams
Stratigic Planning
Influences technical roadmap
Team Management:
None; mentors engineers
Meeting Involvment:
Design authority in technical reviews
Project Management:
Leads cross-team initiatives
Communication:
Communicates with senior engineering leadership
Professional Development:
→ Principal Engineer / Architect
Distinguished Engineer
Primary Role:
Highest IC level; sets enterprise technical direction
Reporting Relations:
Reports to CTO/VP
Decision Making Authority:
Defines technical principles and standards
Stratigic Planning
Defines multi-year technical vision
Team Management:
No direct reports
Meeting Involvment:
Executive + board technical advisor
Project Management:
Oversees transformational initiatives
Communication:
External thought leadership + board-level clarity
Professional Development:
→ Fellow / CTO track
Technical Lead Manager (TLM)
Primary Role:
Hybrid manager and technical leader
Reporting Relations:
Reports to Director
Decision Making Authority:
People + technical decisions
Stratigic Planning
Contributes to org planning
Team Management:
Manages 5–8 engineers
Meeting Involvment:
Facilitates roadmap & execution reviews
Project Management:
Oversees sprint + roadmap execution
Communication:
Cross-functional leadership
Professional Development:
→ Senior EM / Director