CF

Grow From Mid-Level To Senior Engineer: L4 To L5

3h 50s
English
Paid

"Senior Software Engineer" is a title that sounds impressive and is a goal every engineer aspires to achieve. High-class senior engineers are in great demand in tech companies, especially in large ones, as there just aren't enough of them. During the pandemic, many people rushed into IT, resulting in the average engineer now being at the mid-level. If you are a senior engineer, you are special.

Nonetheless, getting promoted to senior engineer is an extremely difficult task, especially in FAANG companies. Many engineers face challenges transitioning from Meta level E4 to E5 and from Google level L4 to L5. The move from SDE 2 to SDE 3 at Amazon is considered the hardest of all promotions that engineers might encounter, and it can take up to 10 years.

Why is this transition so disappointing, becoming the first promotion that 95%+ of engineers encounter? Because the move from a mid-level engineer to a senior engineer requires a fundamental change in dynamics, which this course thoroughly examines. By the end of the course, you will:

  • Fully understand the difference between a mid-level engineer and a senior engineer
  • Master the correct work approach required of a senior engineer
  • Be able to identify your technical gaps to meet the senior engineer level
  • Find the key gaps needed to reach the senior engineer level
  • Determine a clear roadmap for transitioning to the senior engineer level

About the Author: Alex Chiou

Alex Chiou thumbnail

Alex Chiou is a US engineer (formerly at Meta and Pinterest) and a co-founder of Tech Career Growth (originally Tech Lead alongside Patrick Shyu). His teaching focuses on the career-trajectory side of working in software at large tech companies — the unwritten rules of performance reviews, promotions, project selection, and the soft-skills that compound across an engineering career.

The course catalog covers technical interview preparation (algorithm / data-structure questions and the system-design rounds at the senior level), the career-side topics around landing and succeeding at FAANG-tier companies, and the engineering-management track for developers transitioning into leadership roles.

The CourseFlix listing under this source carries 9 Alex Chiou courses spanning that range. Material is paid and aimed at engineers preparing for interviews or actively navigating the career path at large tech companies.

Watch Online 24 lessons

This is a demo lesson (10:00 remaining)

You can watch up to 10 minutes for free. Subscribe to unlock all 24 lessons in this course and access 10,000+ hours of premium content across all courses.

View Pricing
0:00
/
#1: How This Course Works
All Course Lessons (24)
#Lesson TitleDurationAccess
1
How This Course Works Demo
09:35
2
Why Is The Senior Promotion So Hard?
10:59
3
At A Glance: Mid-Level Vs. Senior
04:19
4
Structuring Your Growth
07:13
5
Finding The Right Team
07:20
6
The Goggles
07:47
7
Take Greater Ownership
06:34
8
Fill In The Gaps
04:49
9
Code Quality
05:26
10
Code Review
09:17
11
Debugging
06:59
12
System Design
06:59
13
Just 1 Sentence Is Enough
03:53
14
Work Towards The Team Goal
06:23
15
What's The Plan?
02:36
16
Project Management
06:18
17
Meetings
07:49
18
Build A Strong Internal Network
06:43
19
Onboarding
05:18
20
Mentorship
09:00
21
Instagram Ads Testing Tool
15:12
22
Instagram Ads Survey Cleanup Workstream
13:46
23
Plot Your Growth Journey
07:23
24
Go Deeper: Follow Through
09:12
Unlock unlimited learning

Get instant access to all 23 lessons in this course, plus thousands of other premium courses. One subscription, unlimited knowledge.

Learn more about subscription

Related courses

Frequently asked questions

What are the prerequisites for enrolling in this course?
The course is designed for engineers who are currently at a mid-level position and are looking to progress to a senior engineer role. It is particularly suitable for those working at companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon, where the transition from levels such as E4 to E5, L4 to L5, or SDE 2 to SDE 3 is notably challenging. Participants should have a solid foundation in software engineering and be familiar with the typical responsibilities of a mid-level engineer.
What specific projects will I work on during the course?
The course includes practical exercises such as working on the 'Instagram Ads Testing Tool' and the 'Instagram Ads Survey Cleanup Workstream'. These projects are designed to provide hands-on experience in managing complex tasks and improving system design and code quality, which are essential skills for a senior engineer.
Who is the target audience for this course?
The course is targeted at mid-level engineers who aspire to advance to senior engineer positions, particularly in large tech companies such as those in the FAANG group. It is ideal for individuals looking to enhance their skills in areas crucial for senior roles, such as project management, system design, and team leadership.
How does the depth of this course compare to other engineering courses?
This course specifically focuses on the difficult transition from mid-level to senior engineer, which is often not covered in detail in general engineering courses. With lessons on topics like 'Structuring Your Growth', 'Take Greater Ownership', and 'Build A Strong Internal Network', it provides targeted advice and strategies tailored for those seeking senior engineer roles in top tech companies.
What specific tools or platforms are emphasized in the course?
The course emphasizes tools and practices crucial for senior engineers, such as code quality and code review techniques, debugging strategies, and system design principles. While specific software tools are not the primary focus, these areas are essential for improving technical competency and leadership in engineering roles.
What topics are not covered in this course?
The course does not cover introductory programming or basic software engineering concepts, as it is tailored for mid-level engineers ready to move to senior roles. It also does not delve into specific programming languages or detailed technical tutorials, focusing instead on career growth and development strategies.
What is the expected time commitment for completing this course?
The course consists of 24 lessons, and while the total runtime is not specified, participants should prepare to engage with each lesson thoroughly. Time commitment will vary depending on individual schedules, but the course is designed to be comprehensive and may require additional time for project work and applying the concepts learned in real-world scenarios.