Core Capabilities

Technical Expertise

The ability to apply technical knowledge to complex problems and make sound technical decisions. This includes understanding the underlying principles of systems and technologies, as well as the ability to learn and apply new tools and technologies effectively.

L1: Writes functional code that follows basic team conventions and coding standards with support from others.
L2: Independently implements complete technical solutions with appropriate testing, documentation, and consideration for maintainability.
L3: Architects modular systems that solve complex technical challenges, making sound decisions about technical tradeoffs and integration points.
L4: Leads technical initiatives that span multiple systems, establishing patterns and frameworks that improve development velocity across teams.
L5: Shapes the technical strategy for major product areas, making architectural decisions that enable new business capabilities and improve system reliability at scale.
L6: Defines the company's technical vision and roadmap, making strategic technology choices that create competitive advantages and enable new business opportunities.

Project Ownership

The ability to take responsibility for tasks and projects, ensuring timely delivery and clear communication of progress. This includes setting and meeting deadlines, proactively seeking feedback, and demonstrating accountability for the quality of work.

L1: Executes assigned tasks, providing clear status updates and escalating blockers appropriately. Actively participates in team planning sessions and delivers commitments on schedule.
L2: Manages complete features through the full development lifecycle. Identifies potential risks early and collaborates effectively with immediate team members to resolve issues.
L3: Drives the delivery of multi-week initiatives requiring coordination across multiple functions. Develops project plans that account for dependencies and constraints, while maintaining clear communication channels with all stakeholders.
L4: Leads quarter-long projects that impact multiple teams, establishing effective project management structures and decision-making processes. Manages competing priorities and resource constraints while maintaining project momentum.
L5: Orchestrates long-term initiatives that advance strategic business objectives, involving multiple workstreams and complex stakeholder requirements. Creates alignment across diverse organizational interests.
L6: Directs programs that fundamentally transform company capabilities, potentially spanning multiple years and departments. Develops and implements organizational structures that enable successful execution of complex, interdependent initiatives.

Business Impact

The ability to understand how work contributes to product goals and user needs, and to make decisions that align with business objectives. This includes asking questions to clarify requirements, considering the impact of technical decisions on users, and seeking feedback to ensure alignment with broader goals.

L1: Develops a basic understanding of product goals and user needs; implements features with guidance to ensure alignment with business objectives.
L2: Understands user needs and considers team priorities when implementing features; regularly checks that their work aligns with the product’s objectives.
L3: Proactively considers user needs and business impact when making technical decisions; contributes to product discussions with thoughtful business-related insights.
L4: Regularly aligns technical decisions with business needs and product strategy; provides insights during discussions that help shape long-term product direction.
L5: Regularly bridges technical and business goals, helping shape the product strategy in alignment with company objectives; anticipates potential risks or challenges.
L6: Consistently translates the company’s long-term vision into actionable technical strategies that drive significant business value and competitive advantages.

Communication & Collaboration

The ability to work effectively with others, including product and design teams, and to contribute valuable insights in team discussions. This includes asking thoughtful questions, offering ideas and feedback, and actively participating in team meetings and discussions.

L1: Collaborates with other engineers; seeks input and works well in a team environment.
L2: Participates actively in team and cross-functional discussions, providing valuable input. Communicates effectively with peers and asks clarifying questions when needed.
L3: Works effectively across teams, fostering strong working relationships; communicates complex technical ideas clearly and concisely; produces clear and comprehensive documentation.
L4: Collaborates closely with cross-functional teams, ensuring technical and business alignment. Communicates technical decisions and trade-offs clearly to stakeholders.
L5: Drives collaboration between multiple teams or departments, ensuring that communication flows smoothly and leads to well-aligned technical and business outcomes.
L6: Leads collaboration on large, strategic initiatives across departments. Communicates complex ideas clearly to all levels of the organization, including executive leadership.

Mentorship & Support

The ability to seek and apply feedback for oneself, and to provide guidance and assistance to peers and junior engineers. This includes offering informal help, sharing knowledge, and assisting with small tasks, as well as actively seeking opportunities to learn and grow beyond immediate tasks.

L1: Seeks feedback regularly and incorporates it into their work; shows a willingness to learn and grow based on guidance from more experienced engineers.
L2: Seeks and applies feedback regularly. Begins to provide basic guidance or assistance to peers or junior engineers on tasks they’ve mastered.
L3: Provides regular mentorship to junior engineers and peers, helping them grow. Actively participates in interviewing and hiring processes, offering valuable input.
L4: Mentors junior and mid-level engineers, providing guidance on both technical and non-technical aspects. Participates in the interviewing and hiring process, providing valuable input.
L5: Mentors senior and mid-level engineers, helping to guide their technical growth. Takes a leadership role in interview panels and helps shape hiring criteria.
L6: Mentors senior engineers and helps develop technical leadership across multiple teams. Provides critical input in high-level hiring and talent development discussions.

Leadership & Process Improvement

The ability to demonstrate self-discipline and improve personal workflows, as well as to suggest small improvements to team processes. This includes staying organized, prioritizing tasks, and delivering on time, as well as participating in discussions around team workflows and contributing to process improvements.

L1: Follows established processes effectively and seeks ways to improve their own workflow. Adapts to team processes and tools with minimal guidance.
L2: Demonstrates growing ownership of their work by improving personal processes and participating in discussions around team workflows. Shows self-leadership in task management.
L3: Suggests and leads small team process improvements. Takes initiative in team discussions around workflow, tooling, and practices. Demonstrates self-leadership and supports team effectiveness.
L4: Drives team-wide improvements to processes and tooling. Acts as a leader in discussions around best practices and developer experience, guiding team direction on process and workflow improvements.
L5: Leads process improvements that impact multiple teams or departments. Ensures best practices are followed across teams and works to align processes with the company’s strategic goals.
L6: Drives organization-wide process improvements. Provides strategic leadership on best practices, ensuring that engineering practices are aligned with the company’s vision and goals.