roles

Primary Role:

Company-level technical authority for major systems

Reporting Relations:

Reports to Director/VP

Decision Making Authority:

Final say on major technical standards

Stratigic Planning

Shapes long-term tech strategy

Team Management:

None formally; deep influence

Meeting Involvment:

Executive-facing design reviews

Project Management:

Oversees strategic system initiatives

Communication:

Communicates with execs and stakeholders

Professional Development:

→ Distinguished Engineer

Primary Role:

Manages multiple teams or complex org slice

Reporting Relations:

Reports to Director

Decision Making Authority:

Hiring + budget input

Stratigic Planning

Drives org-level planning

Team Management:

Manages EMs or multiple teams

Meeting Involvment:

Department leadership forums

Project Management:

Oversees multi-team delivery

Communication:

Executive-facing updates

Professional Development:

→ Director

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