Don't most engineering managers get paid more than most IC engineers? Doesn't the move to management progress all the way to the C-suite? If so, then how is moving to management a lateral move?
It's a different set of skills, you're specializing in people vs code. Companies that stack management on top of IC are basically forcing their best engineers to either go into management or leave for a company that doesn't do this.
Not really. FAANGs - and few more - have been doing for a time longer than I know of. https://qr.ae/pv58mp
> Companies that stack management on top of IC are basically forcing their best engineers to either go into management or leave for a company that doesn't do this. Again, not really! Amazon does stack rank and they can't afford to force out their best engineers. I'm aware their culture is demanding and that's purpose built, but that does not imply what you are saying. Check their levels here - https://www.levels.fyi/companies/amazon/salaries/software-en...
> Don't most engineering managers get paid more than most IC engineers? Nope, about the same if not less!
> Doesn't the move to management progress all the way to the C-suite? Also the IC part can take you there (Managers have a hard time becoming CTOs)
> If so, then how is moving to management a lateral move? Because it's a different role (in most companies) and there's no direct connection between technical level and people management
No one ever seems to be answer this question. You are agreeing to work for less if you choose to stay IC. Thats the truth.
I'm a senior, don't want to be a lead, perhaps this is something for me because I like helping developers but I dislike dealing with stakeholders. Thanks
In my experience they operate with 100s of external partners. You will find a Faang engineering team with maybe 1-3 internal devs, and 5-10 sub-contracted.
It's a bit frustrating because you're expected to do same level engineering work for maybe 1/2 or 1/3 of the pay.
I did saw something that you described long time ago at a multinational company, where the employees were mostly managers and team leads, and most devs were contractors. But they gradually moved to a model were they have R&D centers in a lower cost regions were the developers are hired as local employees.
Advantages of hiring SW devs/engineers as contractors at big public companies:
1. they can be hired and fired with the short notice (elasticity)
2. the HR process is less scrupulous and/or bureaucratic (since it's not a permanent position)
3. usually contractors are still can be hired, even when there is a freeze on hiring new employees
4. it can be treated as a trial period for potential new employees
5. most contractors (i.e. those hired via agency, not self-employed) see employee status as a coveted promotion
6. public companies don't count contractors as employees but as service providers, so Revenue-per-employee / Profit-per-employee will be much higher
