CAREER PROGRESSION

Seniority is increasing scope, not distance from the work.

Titles vary. Look for growth across system complexity, customer ambiguity, reusable leverage, and organizational responsibility.

01
OWNS

Aspiring FDE

A bounded project

Can build, explain, break, and prove one production-shaped system.

02
OWNS

FDE

A customer outcome

Owns discovery through rollout across a real operating environment.

03
OWNS

Senior FDE

A complex deployment

Shapes ambiguity, manages risk, and creates reusable field patterns.

04
OWNS

Staff / Principal

A portfolio and platform

Changes architecture and product direction across deployments.

05
OWNS

Lead / Manager

A team and operating system

Sequences people, delivery, quality, adoption, and learning.

06
OWNS

Head of FDE

The function

Designs how field outcomes create durable company leverage.