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Career Path for Software Engineer

 
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Hello,

I'm a recently certified (SCJP) junior software engineer (or Software Engineer I). My annual review is coming up, and I'd like to research the possible career paths and promotions available to me. I've already discussed with my supervisor that I want to stick to a development "track" for the time being, and he said that meant promotions to Team Lead, then Chief Architect. I do know that there are also levels to the Software Engineer title. I'd like to get an idea of what these jobs entail and what is required to be successful at them, and also other options.

I've looked on the Monster, Careerbuilder, and Salary.com websites, but they only give information on specific job titles, not how those titles are organized in a career path progression. Any other places I need to look?

I look forward to your responses,

Amanda
 
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One thing to keep in mind is that title mean different things at different companies. A Senior Technical Engineer may be higher than a Team Lead at one company, below on another, and equivalent but parallel in yet another.

Generally an architect is the highest level--but in one company an architect may require 6-8 years of experience whereas at another it may require 15-20.

--Mark
 
Amanda Albert
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Thanks for your response Mark,

I do realize that titles are crazy in the IT world. Is there anyway to get just a general idea of the possible career progression?
 
Mark Herschberg
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The best way is to ask everyone you meet what are the roles and levels at their particular company. Eventually you start to see that most companies follow one of a few patterns.

--Mark
 
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