← Canon taxonomy

Compare profiles

Side-by-side leveling, scope, and market pay. Add up to four via ?keys=SWE.GEN.P5,SWE.GEN.P6.

vs
P6
PRODUC2.SYSTEMSE3570.P6
Systems Engineering / Product Development — P6
P5
PRODUC2.SYSTEMSE3570.P5
Systems Engineering / Product Development — P5
P7
PRODUC2.SYSTEMSE3570.P7
Systems Engineering / Product Development — P7
P6
PRODUC2.TESTVALI3A87.P6
Test & Validation Engineering — P6
Market pay$188k ($148k$240k)inherited$138k ($109k$176k)inherited$231k ($182k$294k)inherited$188k ($148k$240k)inherited
LevelP6 · P6 — Principal ProfessionalP5 · P5 — Expert ProfessionalP7 · P7 — Staff / Distinguished ProfessionalP6 · P6 — Principal Professional
FunctionProduct Development & Systems EngineeringProduct Development & Systems EngineeringProduct Development & Systems EngineeringProduct Development & Systems Engineering
FocusSystems Engineering / Product DevelopmentSystems Engineering / Product DevelopmentSystems Engineering / Product DevelopmentTest & Validation Engineering
Typical years12–188–1215–2212–18
ScopeOrganization-wide architecture and the hardest problemsMultiple systems or a technical domainCross-organization / enterprise technical strategyOrganization-wide architecture and the hardest problems
AutonomyDefines direction; minimal oversightSets direction within the domainOperates autonomously at the enterprise levelDefines direction; minimal oversight
ImpactOrganization-wideOrg / multi-team outcomesEnterprise-wideOrganization-wide
Decision rightsSets technical strategy for a major areaAuthority over a technical domainFinal technical authority across multiple domainsSets technical strategy for a major area