Meta Engineering Levels for software Engineers
Meta (a.k.a Facebook) has very well established structure and levels for Software Engineers. Meta Engineering Levels are starting from E2 Intern/Student but for purpose of this post we will focus on levels from E3 to E9+ which are for fully qualified engineers.
We will cover briefly what one could expect from each level.
Meta Software Engineers Levels
- E3 – Software Engineer ||
- E4 – Software Engineer |||
- E5 – Senior Software Engineer
- E6 – Staff Software Engineer
- E7 – Senior Staff Software Engineer
- E8 – Principle Engineer
- E9+ – Distinguished Engineer
E3 – Software Engineer ||
E3 Software Engineers join the company either from university or with a couple of years of commercial experience (intern or apprentice). E3 engineers are expected to have level of autonomy sufficient for completing individual tasks without much guidance, delivering production quality code, using tools and implementing good tests, writing documentation.
People and soft skills though not critical are still important. They should be able to receive constructive feedback, work on it and improve proactively with expected level of coaching.
At Meta, E3 Software Engineers are expected to be a well rounded engineer being able to deliver good quality code and features, and exibit strong growth mindset. Engineers at that level are expected to grow to E4 within 24 months.
E4 – Software Engineer |||
Software Engineer: As a Software Engineer |||, you work on projects delivering whole features. You own the technical specification, collaborate with other teams to deliver. Working mostly independent. You help your colleagues through code reviews or providing constructive feedback on technical decisions.
E5 – Senior Software Engineer
Senior Software Engineer: You own a problem space / project end-to-end. E5 engineers should create scope for themselves and others in the team. Driving technical alignment and collaboration across functions and teams. As a Senior Software Engineer help other engineers grow through mentoring and coaching. You set and maintain the quality bar for the team. You can drive and deliver through others.
E6 – Staff Software Engineer
Staff Software Engineer: Yow play a critical role in setting the direction and goals of the team. As a Staff Software Engineer you are involved in roadmapping, scoping work and managing technical problems spanning outside of the team, while also influencing the organisation. You are the one that deals with the hardest problems. You can cover for missing PM or EM in the team if needed, and advocate for high quality and engineering excellence.
E7 – Senior Staff Software Engineer
Senior Staff Software Engineer: Different tracks and Archetypes focusing on breadth or depth in terms of technical complexity. Working on large programs spanning multiple teams and orgs. Setting organisational direction of a large problem. Involved in building high performing engineering teams and organisations.
E8 – Principal Engineer
Principal Engineer: Industry expert/leader. You have impact beyond Meta, into an industry or specific technology area, and you are very passionate about an area and champion it. As Principal Engineer you drive technical, process and cultural changes to help the company move fast. Pursuing many difficult incremental changes instead of just building new/shiny pieces of technology. You are a great coach and people follow you.
E9+ – Distinguished Engineer
Distinguished Engineer: As Distinguished Engineer you are heading a whole organisation. A core product of Meta. You are seen as a CTO of the area able to drive through all of the layers independently and dealing with problems that few other can.
Engineering Levels Expectations
The important difference between an IC3 and an IC9+ is not the volume of work they directly produce, but the scope of problems they solve, the quality of those solutions, and the way they deliver results. The higher up in the levels the bigger “blast radius” you have, i.e. you impact more people, teams, product metrics, revenue across the company with your direct and indirect influence and contributions.
Engineering Culture
Levels Abbreviation
You might have come across different abbreviations for levels. Let’s take as an example: IC6, L6, E6, M1. Many people wonder if they are different and what exactly is the difference between each one of them.
Let’s look first at the letters portion and understand what they mean.
- L – stands for “Level” it is quite self explanatory and it’s mainly used by Google but also Microsoft. It is straight forward and can be used across many different roles like PM, TPM, Designers etc.
- E – stands for “Engineering” as Engineering Level but that is more restrictive and may I say discriminates against certain roles, i.e. not all employees are Engineers, some are Content and Product Designers, Product Managers, Technical Program Managers Policy, Legal, Project Managers etc. This one is used conversely around roles in Meta but it is not an official one.
- IC – stands for “Individual Contributor”. This has more generic use and is a standard Meta level description. It is also incorporating the actual role of the employee, i.e. everyone can be Individual Contributor, regardless of type of work which is more inclusive. Also this shows that the person does not have people management expectations.
- M – since we have introduced a new letter let’s cover it too. It stands for Manager and can be used for different roles and technical domains. This is heavily used in Meta for all people managers. For example PM Manager, Engineering Manager, Data Engineering Manager, etc. This level can also correspond to an “L” type level, for example M1 = L6 and M2 = L7.
If you are wondering if there is a difference between L6 – E6 – IC6. The answer is, no. There is no difference in terms of roles and levels they all represent same expectations. That said since those abbreviations are being used by different companies, i.e. Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, etc. they can have different comparison across the companies. If you look at the expectations at Google for L6 engineer that person might be L7 in a startup or another company depending on their skills and their exposure to various technical and business problems.
Meta Compensation Structure (incl. Example)
Meta’s compensation structure, like that of many large tech companies, is designed to attract and retain top talent by offering a competitive mix of salary, stock options, bonuses, and benefits. This structure is typically composed of several key components:
1. Base Salary
The base salary is the fixed annual compensation paid to an employee, not including bonuses, equity, or any other benefits. It’s determined by the employee’s role, level, experience, and the market rates for similar positions.
2. Stock Options/Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Meta, being a publicly traded company, offers stock options or Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of the compensation package. These equity components align the interests of the employees with the company’s success. RSUs are company shares given to employees as part of their compensation, but they come with a vesting schedule, typically over four years. This means the employee gains control of the stock over time, encouraging them to stay with the company longer.
3. Bonuses
Bonuses are performance-based cash payments. They can be tied to individual performance, team performance, and/or company performance. These are typically awarded annually and can significantly increase an employee’s total compensation based on their and Meta’s success.
4. Benefits
Beyond the monetary compensation, Meta offers a comprehensive benefits package, which can include health insurance, retirement savings plans, parental leave, wellness programs, and more. These benefits contribute to the overall compensation but are not typically quantified in the total compensation figure.
Example of Compensation Structure
Let’s consider a hypothetical example for an E3 Software Engineer Salary at Meta:
- Base Salary: $120,000 annually. This is the fixed cash component paid out in monthly salaries.
- Stock Options/RSUs: $40,000 annually, vested over four years. This means the employee is granted $160,000 worth of RSUs, which start vesting after one year of employment, at a rate of $40,000 per year.
- Bonus: $15,000 annually, depending on personal and company performance.
- Total Estimated Compensation: $175,000 annually, not including benefits.
Vesting Schedule Example
For the RSU component, if the vesting schedule is over four years with a one-year cliff, it means that the employee must stay with the company for at least one year to receive the first 25% ($40,000) of their RSUs. After the cliff, the remaining RSUs typically vest monthly or quarterly over the next three years.
This compensation structure is designed to be competitive and reward employees for their contributions to the company’s success, as well as incentivize long-term employment. However, the exact figures can vary based on many factors, including negotiation, the company’s stock price, and more.
Meta Software Engineer Average Salary Overview
Salaries at Meta, like at most tech companies, comprise a base salary, stock options, and bonuses. While specific figures can vary widely based on the individual’s negotiation skills, tenure at the company, and the company’s current compensation strategy, here’s a broad overview:
- E3 (Software Engineer): The total compensation typically starts in the lower six-figure range but varies based on location and other factors.
- E4 to E5: These levels see a significant jump, with total compensation moving into the mid to high six-figure range.
- E6 and above: Compensation at these levels can vary widely, often reaching into the seven figures for E8 and above, especially when factoring in stock options and bonuses which can make up a large portion of the total pay.
Remember, these figures are indicative and can fluctuate based on market conditions, individual performance, and negotiation. Meta is known for offering competitive packages to attract and retain top talent. It’s also important to consider other factors such as work-life balance, career development opportunities, and company culture when evaluating a job offer.
So here is the list of salary levels of Meta Engineers as per the levels (Source levels.fyi):
| Level | Base Salary | Stock Options (/yr) | Bonus (avg) | Total Compensation (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E3 | $130,000 | $45,000 | $20,000 | $195,000 |
| E4 | $170,000 | $105,000 | $25,000 | $300,000 |
| E5 | $215,000 | $225,000 | $30,000 | $470,000 |
| E6 | $250,000 | $400,000 | $50,000 | $700,000 |
| E7 | $300,000 | $1,005,000 | $65,000 | $1,370,000 |
| E8 | $350,000 | $1,250,000 | $100,000 | $1,700,000 |
| E9 | $380,000 | $2,450,000 | $150,000 | $2,980,000 |
Meta Core Company Values
At each Meta engineering level, the person will have to focus and exhibit impact across most or all Meta Core Values. This is fully embedded in the performance evaluation and within the company processes.
- Move Fast
- Focus on Long-Term Impact
- Build Awesome Things
- Live in the Future
- Be Direct and Respect Your Colleagues
- Meta, Metamates, Me
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