← Canon taxonomy

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

vs
P7
PRODUC2.SYSTEMSE3570.P7
Systems Engineering / Product Development — P7
P6
PRODUC2.SYSTEMSE3570.P6
Systems Engineering / Product Development — P6
P5
PRODUC2.SYSTEMSE3570.P5
Systems Engineering / Product Development — P5
P6
PRODUC2.TESTVALI3A87.P6
Test & Validation Engineering — P6
Market pay$231k ($182k$294k)inherited$188k ($148k$240k)inherited$138k ($109k$176k)inherited$188k ($148k$240k)inherited
LevelP7 · P7 — Staff / Distinguished ProfessionalP6 · P6 — Principal ProfessionalP5 · P5 — Expert 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 years15–2212–188–1212–18
ScopeCross-organization / enterprise technical strategyOrganization-wide architecture and the hardest problemsMultiple systems or a technical domainOrganization-wide architecture and the hardest problems
AutonomyOperates autonomously at the enterprise levelDefines direction; minimal oversightSets direction within the domainDefines direction; minimal oversight
ImpactEnterprise-wideOrganization-wideOrg / multi-team outcomesOrganization-wide
Decision rightsFinal technical authority across multiple domainsSets technical strategy for a major areaAuthority over a technical domainSets technical strategy for a major area