Waypoints: Engineering Career Framework
An open source leveling framework; by engineers, for engineers—defining clear standards for growth and impact in software development.
Request For Comments: The framework is current in beta testing phase. We welcome
feedback and criticism (Dan, 12 Feb 2025)
Why Waypoints?
Impact Driven
Emphasizes how technical decisions and engineering work drive business value, encouraging holistic thinking about scope and impact.
Clear Growth Paths
Provides distinct frameworks for both individual contributors and engineering managers, reflecting the evolving nature of software development.
Adaptable Framework
Open source and customizable, ready to use as-is or adapt to your team's specific needs and context.
Principled Standards
Focuses on the fundamentals that make great engineers, regardless of current technology trends.
Explore Waypoints
Career Paths
Understand the expectations and capabilities needed at each level.
Implementation
Resources for organizations adopting the framework.
How to deploy the framework » Suggested compensation process » Performance management guide »