IC7, IC8, and IC9 Expectations

In this lesson, Philip breaks down how expectations change across senior engineering levels, from E7 through E9. Rather than viewing career progression as a checklist of increasingly difficult tasks, he explains that seniority is largely defined by the scope, duration, and value of the impact you can reliably create—whether through leading larger organizations, delivering increasingly complex initiatives, or possessing technical expertise that cannot easily be replicated by adding more engineers.

• Higher levels are defined by expanding scope and influence. An E7 might influence the work of roughly 50 people and independently drive long-term initiatives, while E8 and E9 impact expands further through organizational breadth, technical depth, strategic importance, or uniquely valuable expertise.
• At the highest levels, promotion becomes increasingly qualitative. There is no universal checklist for reaching E8 or E9. Senior engineers can create exceptional value through different archetypes, and recognition at these levels often depends on whether other senior leaders view your impact as operating at their level.
• Surround yourself with people who create room for growth. Being the strongest person on a weak team can limit your development and make it difficult to accurately assess your abilities. When senior role models are scarce, finding an experienced coach who can give candid, qualitative feedback may be even more valuable than finding someone whose career you can directly imitate.