Software Engineer Promotion Guides

Company-specific playbooks for every level transition — exact requirements, what blocks most engineers, and how to get there faster.

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12
Promotion playbooks
7
Companies covered
Free
AI coach to practice your pitch

Amazon

SDE I → SDE II
Software Development Engineer I

→ Software Development Engineer II

Timeline: 18–30 months Comp: 25–40%
Read the playbook →
SDE II → SDE III
Software Development Engineer II

→ Senior Software Development Engineer

Timeline: 3–5 years Comp: 35–60%
Read the playbook →

Any Top Tech Company

Senior → Staff
Senior Software Engineer

→ Staff Software Engineer

Timeline: 3–7 years Comp: 40–80%
Read the playbook →
Senior / Staff IC → Engineering Manager
Individual Contributor

→ Engineering Manager

Timeline: 1–3 years after transition Comp: 10–30% (varies widely)
Read the playbook →

Apple

ICT2 → ICT3
Software Engineer

→ Senior Software Engineer

Timeline: 2–4 years Comp: 25–40%
Read the playbook →

Google

L3 → L4
Software Engineer (Entry)

→ Software Engineer II

Timeline: 18–24 months Comp: 30–45%
Read the playbook →
L4 → L5
Software Engineer II

→ Senior Software Engineer

Timeline: 2–4 years Comp: 40–60%
Read the playbook →
L5 → L6
Senior Software Engineer

→ Staff Software Engineer

Timeline: 3–6 years at L5 Comp: 50–80%
Read the playbook →

Meta

E4 → E5
Software Engineer (E4)

→ Senior Software Engineer (E5)

Timeline: 2–3 years Comp: 40–65%
Read the playbook →
E5 → E6
Senior Software Engineer (E5)

→ Staff Software Engineer (E6)

Timeline: 3–5 years at E5 Comp: 50–90%
Read the playbook →

Microsoft

SDE 2 → Senior SDE
Software Engineer 2

→ Senior Software Engineer

Timeline: 2–4 years Comp: 30–50%
Read the playbook →

Netflix

Senior → Senior+ / Staff
Senior Software Engineer

→ Senior+ Software Engineer

Timeline: 3–5 years Comp: 35–60%
Read the playbook →

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