← 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
P6
SOFTWA.SOFTWARE984E.P6
Software Engineering — P6
P5
SOFTWA.SOFTWARE984E.P5
Software Engineering — P5
P7
SOFTWA.SOFTWARE984E.P7
Software Engineering — P7
P6
SOFTWA.GXPREGUL8468.P6
GxP / Regulated Software & Systems Engineering — P6
Market pay$201k ($158k$256k)inherited$148k ($116k$188k)inherited$247k ($194k$315k)inherited$201k ($158k$256k)inherited
LevelP6 · P6 — Principal ProfessionalP5 · P5 — Expert ProfessionalP7 · P7 — Staff / Distinguished ProfessionalP6 · P6 — Principal Professional
FunctionSoftware EngineeringSoftware EngineeringSoftware EngineeringSoftware Engineering
FocusSoftware EngineeringSoftware EngineeringSoftware EngineeringGxP / Regulated Software & Systems 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