What Level Is Distinguished Engineer. L10 and above are typically Google Fellows or Senior Fellows, e

L10 and above are typically Google Fellows or Senior Fellows, extremely rare roles often occupied by individuals recognized across the entire industry. We are talking about an engineer who is often one of the most respected technical experts and the pinnacle of a technical career within a company. Read below to learn more about a Google-level software engineer's role and salary. Typically, the percentage of female Distinguished Engineers hovers around 3 percent to 5 percent. This level is similar to Google’s own Fellow level. How much does a Distinguished Engineer make? The average annual salary of Distinguished Engineer in the United States is $111,004 or $53 per hour, ranging from $97,195 to $124,519 and $47 to $60. Becoming a Distinguished Engineer is a pretty big deal for any engineer, male or female. Wondering how much you can earn as a software engineer at Google? We break down the Google software engineer salary by level and location, covering compensation components and Google software engineer levels. We have covered both technical and management track at Microsoft. Nov 6, 2025 · Distinguished engineers are established leaders, thought of as director-level ICs. Eng) and IIT, Delhi (M. What salary does a Distinguished Engineer earn in your area? While technical delivery is certainly important when selecting our Distinguished Engineers, what sets them apart [in the selection process] is their contribution to the firm at large and their commitment to building the engineering culture at UBS, says Mitra Heravizadeh, WMPC Technology CTO and Technology Fellow. This is not surprising, given the general trend of decreasing diversity in the higher echelons of enterprises. As you climb the path of a senior individual contributor, it is important to understand the definition and skillset required for the role you are seeking. Entry level. How to Become a Distinguished Engineer Here’s my advice based on what I have tried: Become an expert on the basics to help others get productive quickly: Feb 16, 2022 · Defining the staple jobs of a Distinguished Engineer can be tricky as the responsibilities can differ across organizations and there can be some overlap with other senior roles. Apr 10, 2025 · What is the salary trajectory of a a Distinguished Engineer? The salary trajectory of a a Distinguished Engineer ranges between locations and employers. For example: L3: Software Engineer II L4: Software Engineer III L5: Senior Engineer L6: Staff Engineer L7: Senior Staff Engineer L8: Principal Engineer L9: Distinguished Engineer L10: Google Fellow L11: Senior Google Fellow I was curious to how Tech Lead/Team Lead and other roles fit in to the hiearchy generally. What it involves: Distinguished Engineers possess a profound depth and breadth of technical knowledge that is not only vast but often spans multiple disciplines. What are Software Engineer Levels? Jan 25, 2021 · SDE III (L6): This is a senior software engineer in the greater market, ranging from eight to ten years of industry experience. We highlighted the Apr 27, 2025 · At Microsoft, Distinguished Engineers remain hands-on coders/architects at the executive level. Feb 7, 2025 · Distributed Systems & Large-Scale Engineering Google’s core infrastructure relies on high-performance, globally distributed systems. View more Hardware Engineer salary ranges with breakdowns by base, stock, and bonus amounts. 63 & 64 - Senior Software Engineering Manager The median total compensation package for a Distinguished Engineer at IBM is $522,494. How much does a Distinguished Engineer make at Dell Technologies? Feb 1, 2021 · The Senior Engineer is typically considered a 'career-level', meaning the majority of Software Engineers will spend their careers operating and contributing at this level. May 21, 2024 · Level 9 – Distinguished Software Engineer Like level 8, the software engineers at level 9 are primarily responsible for creating effective technical strategies. In Capital One, Distinguished Engineers demonstrate the following attributes. They provide technical direction and are experts in their domain, helping to bring about practical, reusable, and scalable solutions. Band D - This is the first-level executive band. Nov 30, 2021 · The Panel was a select group of Distinguished Engineers and VPs from around the company that once again ensured PE promos were following a standard company bar. Aug 7, 2023 · Lessons learned from being promoted from distinguished engineer to fellow, including what the title means and what it is that I do. Continuing appointments at the lecturer level and above are similar to the permanent academic posts found in the United Kingdom, and generally involve a 3–5 year probationary period. Click here to see the total pay, recent salaries shared and more! Dec 12, 2022 · Distinguished Engineers need to have developed a high level of emotional intelligence. Compare roles, responsibilities, and progression paths for career growth. Principal Engineers, the Level 8s, are associated with a major product or piece of infrastructure. Levels at a Glance E3 - Software Engineer II E4 - Software Engineer III E5 - Senior Software Engineer E6 - Staff Software Engineer E7 - Senior Staff Software Engineer E8 - Principal Engineer E9+ - Distinguished Engineer Jan 1, 2023 · Explore the different levels and career progression for Software Engineers at Meta (Facebook). The Senior Staff Engineer at Instacart was at the company for 8 years, while the Distinguished Engineer at Pinterest worked there for more than 9 years. ) just got promoted to Distinguished last year. Aug 28, 2024 · 67/68 - Distinguished Engineer/Technical Fellow: Equivalent to executive-level engineering positions, focusing on major innovations, strategic influence, and industry impact. 1 day ago · Software Engineer compensation in United States at GEICO ranges from $122K per year for Software Engineer I to $490K per year for Distinguished Engineer II. According to the documents, Level 70 candidates can earn a yearly salary of as much as $408,000, depending on location. He has over 40 patents to his name. But this is primarily a technology position, at least the distinguished engineer part of my job is basically an executive-level individual contributor. 4 days ago · FAQ What is the highest salary at Cisco? The highest paying role reported at Cisco is Software Engineer at the Distinguished Engineer level with a yearly total compensation of $661,000. They are recognized as established leaders and experts, often viewed as director-level individual contributors (ICs). Still, it generally includes a substantial base salary, significant bonuses, and stock options, reflecting the critical role and expertise required at this level. . IBM Distinguished Engineers (DEs) are executive-level technical leadership positions and are appointed for outstanding technical contributions and leadership. Oct 1, 2021 · The EM and IC tracks run in parallel, so you have something like: Generally, the reporting structures are across a level so that you can expect a Senior Engineer to report to an Engineering Manager, Staff Engineer to a Director of Engineering, etc. They are often involved in strategic planning and implementing cutting-edge technologies. At or around the Cxx level, you will find all sorts of roles . Wondering how much you can earn as a software engineer at Meta? We break down the Meta software engineer salary by level and location, covering compensation components and Meta software engineer levels. The median total compensation package for a Distinguished Engineer at LinkedIn is $2,153,000. VP/Fellow - For engineering Fellow is the end of the road, I believe it has to be CEO approved. Mar 15, 2025 · To better understand the scope and hierarchy of engineering, it’s essential to explore the different levels of engineering and what they entail. He originally came from India having studied at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (B. May 17, 2022 · E10: Fellow. Engineers who design and maintain the backend frameworks for Google Search, YouTube, and Google Ads often progress to Principal Engineer and Distinguished Engineer levels. The salary starts at $224,742 per year (estimate) and goes up to $364,204 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority. Let’s explore each level in detail! Aug 2, 2025 · A leaked Microsoft compensation chart for 2025 reveals that software engineers can amass significant wealth by remaining with the company. Apr 10, 2025 · 520 Distinguished Engineer Salaries provided anonymously by Microsoft employees in United States. It can vary depending on company size as well, Google has distinguished engineers above principal for example. To explore what the title of Distinguished Engineer encompasses and how an engineer reaches that highest individual contributor level title, we spoke to one such engineer. Discover how Capital One associates in Distinguished Engineer roles amplify and influence tech excellence while charting their own career path. Ravi Pratap Singh was a Distinguished Engineer (Job grade IC7) and Director (Job grade M4) at NVIDIA and dedicated over 13 years to NVIDIA (Austin, Texas office). Apr 10, 2025 · The average salary for a Distinguished Engineer is $366,417 per year in United States. Level definitions comprise scope and three axes (direction, people, engineering excellence). The data indicates that progressing from entry-level to Sep 21, 2023 · L9 (Level 9): Distinguished Software Engineer Technically accomplished individual with leadership qualities and is equivalent to a Senior Director role. Cisco Systems salary trends based on salaries posted anonymously by Cisco Systems employees. Distinguished Engineers will significantly impact our trajectory and devise clear roadmaps to deliver next generation technology solutions. A QA Engineer may be a programmer or a manual tester. This includes base salary as well as any potential stock compensation and bonuses. Please share more information. Jun 27, 2024 · Distinguished Engineer Roles at GitLab Distinguished Engineers are recognized experts in multiple technology domains within GitLab, and represent the senior technical leadership within their organization and throughout the company at large. IBM Distinguished Engineers are corporate appointments. In this stage, which typically lasts up to two years, a junior should grasp basic coding, handle tasks assigned by the Team Lead, and contribute ideas in meetings. Jul 23, 2025 · Yesterday Sujit Eapen (fellow Distinguished Engineer) and I shared our views on the benefits of working in fintech and the importance of technology excellence at Morgan Stanley. The median total compensation package for a Distinguished Engineer at Palo Alto Networks is $721,340. Nov 6, 2025 · Understanding the difference between staff engineer, principal engineer, and distinguished engineer can be confusing. She accomplished one or two industry-leading things before that :-) 4 days ago · Apple salary levels ranges from ICT3 (Human Resources) upto Distinguished Engineer (Software Engineer), with Distinguished Engineer (Software Engineer) level earning average salary of $1635k along with $1078k worth of stock options. 3 days ago · Wondering about Google Software Engineer Levels? Google’s engineering hierarchy ranges from entry-level to distinguished engineers, each with increasing responsibilities. The companies represented in the senior-most levels experienced hypergrowth while the engineer worked there. The levels of engineering are typically categorized based on factors such as education, experience, skills, and job responsibilities. Jun 6, 2024 · Average salaries for Cisco Systems Distinguished Engineer: $220,845. Understanding these levels helps in career planning, salary expectations, and growth opportunities within Google’s tech landscape. The hierarchy of engineers also depends on the organization the engineers work for, the engineering work being done, and other factors. May 24, 2024 · The average total compensation for a Distinguished Engineer (L9) at Google is not typically disclosed due to its variability and high level. 9 million. 14 Amazon apollo35Jan 29, 2021 Here’s how the journey unfolded. At most technology companies, you’ll reach Senior software engineer, the career level for software engineers, in five to eight years. Jul 1, 2024 · The position at the top of the IT mountain is that of a distinguished engineer. They are responsible for helping shape the future direction of the organization, assisting management establish strategic roadmaps, and driving priorities The median total compensation package for a Distinguished Engineer at Cisco is $661,000. They are usually involved in coding, testing, and basic software development tasks. Jul 31, 2025 · Microsoft’s pay data includes salary bands, on-hire stock awards, signing bonuses, annual stock awards, and bonus percentages. Join a company that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and advance your career with top opportunities and growth potential. What distinguishes a Distinguished Engineer (Level 10) at Amazon? Distinguished Engineers at Amazon hold significant influence across the organization. Dec 31, 2025 · Check out the ultimate guide to FAANG software engineer job levels to understand titles, experience, salaries & promotions. At the career level, your company’s career ladder won’t require that you work towards the next promotion; being promoted further is an exception rather than expected. View the base salary, stock, and bonus breakdowns for GEICO's total compensation packages. This level will make business tradeoff decisions, often mentor others on the team, and lead large chunks of engineering work. 98M per year for L9. Constant job hopping is a recipe to stay at the Senior level (or lower) forever. Jul 6, 2024 · Amazon is one of the top-paying companies worldwide. 1 day ago · Software Engineer compensation in United States at Google ranges from $181K per year for L3 to $1. Jul 8, 2024 · An online assessment may also be part of the process for entry-level positions. So: 59 & 60 - Software Engineer 61 & 62 - Software Engineer 2 63 & 64 - Senior Software Engineer 65, 66 & 67 - Principal Software Engineer 68+ - Partner, Distinguished Engineer, and Technical Fellow The management chain follows the same rungs, but (in nearly all cases) starts at 63 minimum. This is also when many engineers are first given an opportunity to move into engineering Most band 10 engineers report to second-line managers. QA Engineer: Usually someone involved in testing (though sometimes QA refers to making sure the paperwork is correct) Software Engineer in Test (SDET): Similar to a QA Engineer, but with a focus on test automation and the creation of test frameworks. The median total compensation package for a Distinguished Engineer at Amazon is $1,660,500. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Staff software engineers generally have influence over an organization while principal have influence over an entire company or industry. Apr 29, 2024 · While responsibilities can vary between companies, a Distinguished Engineer typically sits above Principal Engineer and just below Fellow (where that title exists). Oct 17, 2023 · An entry-level engineer can earn a salary up to $124,600, while a senior engineer (Level 63) can see salaries up to $237,600 with stock awards reaching $220,000. Tech). [7] Between 2009 and 2015, the University of Western Australia (UWA) used titles more Mar 25, 2004 · Hello, i am looking for Distinguished Engineer jobs, where can i find one in Microsofts, is there a career email where i can email Microsofts. Whether you're looking for a Meta E6 salary, Meta software engineer salary Seattle, or any other level, we provide insights to help you know what to expect. Mar 25, 2004 · Hello, i am looking for Distinguished Engineer jobs, where can i find one in Microsofts, is there a career email where i can email Microsofts. May 24, 2024 · Many engineers are still unsure about Google's compensation scale for various levels, from Google entry-level software engineers to more advanced-level engineers' salaries in software engineering. The salary starts at $224,327 per year (estimate) and goes up to $361,752 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority. How much does a Distinguished Software Engineer make? The average annual salary of Distinguished Software Engineer in the United States is $163,177 or $78 per hour, ranging from $132,749 to $196,190 and $64 to $94. Partner refers to specific levels, and is separate from management role (director, gm, etc). Jan 9, 2026 · Understand the different career levels at Facebook with our guide on Facebook Software Engineer Job Levels, from level E1 to E6. A senior engineer will lead feature sets, applications and critical product development work. Influence. They are recognized both within and outside the company as experts in their fields. The median total compensation package for a IC7 at Nvidia is $615,000. View the base salary, stock, and bonus breakdowns for Google's total compensation packages. Directors typically manage DEs, second lines, and some exceptional STSMs. What are Software Engineer Levels? Jan 7, 2023 · The engineering hierarchy consists of principal and distinguished engineers at the top, with staff and senior engineers at the lower half of the hierarchy. View more Software Engineer salary ranges with breakdowns by base, stock, and bonus amounts. Some of those companies even have the Distinguished Engineer job titles to recognize their work and impact in their fields. Learn about the responsibilities and compensation at each level. Jul 30, 2025 · Partners start at level 68 while distinguished engineers are at level 70. While technical delivery is certainly important when selecting our Distinguished Engineers, what sets them apart [in the selection process] is their contribution to the firm at large and their commitment to building the engineering culture at UBS, says Mitra Heravizadeh, WMPC Technology CTO and Technology Fellow. Dec 10, 2025 · Discover what principal engineers and senior engineers are, what they do and learn about some of the ways they differ in areas like hierarchy and skills. Microsoft uses a level system to rank employees and determine their compensation. Dec 27, 2024 · The journey from a new software engineer to a distinguished software engineer is a path full of challenges, growth, and continuous learning. How much does a Distinguished Engineer make at Meta? We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. So directors and distinguished engineers are typically band D. Jul 30, 2025 · The document includes compensation details ranging from entry-level roles to distinguished engineers. Whether you're looking for a Google principal engineer salary, Google software engineer salary London, or any other level or location, we provide insights to help you know what to expect. Jan 2, 2025 · Let’s explore each level, outlining what engineers can expect and the responsibilities associated with them. L9 is Distinguished Engineer, whose influence spans entire organizations, business units, or even global technology strategies. Let’s explore each level in detail! May 24, 2024 · Many engineers are still unsure about Google's compensation scale for various levels, from Google entry-level software engineers to more advanced-level engineers' salaries in software engineering. Distinguished Engineers, the Level 9s, are spoken of with reverence. Staff Engineer (Senior Staff Engineer) The Staff Engineer or Senior Staff Engineer level, is expected to lead and own complex technical initiatives. The median yearly compensation in United States package totals $308K. Sep 20, 2025 · Average salaries for Cisco Distinguished Engineer: $256,934. However at very senior levels, engineers are often not really doing engineering work in any hands-on way. Jul 26, 2025 · Software Engineer has an amazing career path wherein after achieving technical and interpersonal skills, you're promoted to senior-level engineers and the journey continues. 3 days ago · Distinguished Engineer and beyond Description: The highest individual contributor role in many organizations, often one of the most respected technical experts and the pinnacle of a technical career within a company. Learn more in our guide. At the highest end, a Level 70 distinguished engineer can receive a salary of up to $408,000 with an initial stock award of up to $1. The compensation scales and expected areas of influence for each level are the same. The inventor of Python, Guido van Rossum, is a Distinguished Engineer (L70), which is higher than Partner (L68-69). Facebook likely has very few engineers at this level; some people I talked with guessed there are only two or three in total. Programmer: Obvious. And to understand why that was exciting, the last time I had the word “engineer” in my title was also the last time someone other than me wrote me an offer letter — and that ended in 1993. Generally these engineers have lots of freedom to focus on their own R&D while contributing to the company. What roles do SWEs that are 7-15 years in see? What is the level of a (DE) Is it one level higher than Principal Engineer? How many DEs are in Meta? Nov 1, 2024 · Amazon’s senior leadership team, or S-team for short, comprises 31 members. The median yearly compensation in United States package totals $140K. Cisco salary trends based on salaries posted anonymously by Cisco employees. Oct 19, 2023 · Understanding software engineer level designations can help quickly vet and find the right developers for your role. Here’s a summary of each level: Oct 9, 2023 · They're considered the same executive-level employees although they usually don't have any reports. Dec 26, 2024 · Discover engineering levels at Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. A Distinguished Engineer, Scientist or Technologist (DEST) is a high-level Apple employee who has been recognized for extraordinary scientific or technical achievement. How much are Amazon software engineers getting paid? What are the levels and factors? 20 hours ago · Explore Distinguished Machine Learning Engineer- Capital One Software (Remote) at Capital One in Philadelphia, PA. Feb 2, 2023 · The very best engineer I've ever worked with at any company (Anna B. spread across relatively few people. Each is a very strong leader, plays a critical role at the company, and exemplifies so many of our leadership principles in how they lead every day. Jul 1, 2024 · The first-level engineer, or Engineer I, starts as an intern or junior software engineer, focusing on developing technical skills and resolving code issues. Jun 12, 2024 · Software Development Engineer I (SDE 1): SDE 1 is an entry-level position for a software engineer who has recently graduated (BTech/Mtech) or has professional experience of less than 2-3 years. In this article, we have explained the Job levels at Microsoft which starts at SDE and goes up to Technical Fellow. Academic positions in Australia and New Zealand can be either continuing (permanent) or fixed-term (contract) appointments.

lgyqe5kl
1esafaggl
ig5o1oy
n3scpstf
ujdiy
zue0iod5
w8n3yb
jywrnci
ngnmspu5
etlhn