roles
Staff Software Engineer
Primary Role:
High-leverage IC solving cross-team technical problems
Reporting Relations:
Reports to EM/Director
Decision Making Authority:
Architecture decisions across teams
Stratigic Planning
Influences technical roadmap
Team Management:
None; mentors engineers
Meeting Involvment:
Design authority in technical reviews
Project Management:
Leads cross-team initiatives
Communication:
Communicates with senior engineering leadership
Professional Development:
→ Principal Engineer / Architect
Head of Engineering
Primary Role:
Top engineering leader (often in startup)
Reporting Relations:
Reports to CEO
Decision Making Authority:
Final say on technical direction
Stratigic Planning
Owns engineering strategy
Team Management:
Manages EMs/Directors
Meeting Involvment:
Executive team member
Project Management:
Oversees full engineering roadmap
Communication:
Board/investor communication
Professional Development:
→ VP / CTO
Startup Chief of Staff
Primary Role:
Strategic partner and advisor, aligning and executing organizational goals
Reporting Relations:
Reports to CEO, with a broader reporting structure
Decision Making Authority:
Significant, delegated authority for executive decisions
Stratigic Planning
Active in development and execution of strategic plans
Team Management:
Manages cross-functional teams and projects
Meeting Involvment:
Actively participating, presenting, and driving decisions
Project Management:
Oversees large, complex projects impacting the organization
Communication:
Represents the executive internally and externally
Professional Development:
Broadens strategic leadership and management skills