Career Ladder Inspiration · Engineering
Khan Academy's engineering career framework
Engineering career ladder from Khan Academy covering 6 competency areas across 4 IC levels. Emphasizes mission impact and learning mindset alongside technical skills.
Company Khan Academy|Year 2026|Discipline Engineering|Tracks TBD|License
Scroll horizontally to explore all 4 levels
Clone this templateSoftware Engineer | Senior Software Engineer | Staff Software Engineer | Principal Software Engineer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Skills Technical Excellence | Writes correct, clean, well-tested code. Understands the technology stack. Follows established patterns and best practices. | Deep expertise in their area. Designs and implements complex systems. Makes sound technical decisions. Identifies and resolves technical debt proactively. | Expert across multiple areas. Architects complex systems used by many teams. Sets technical standards. Creates reusable patterns and infrastructure. | Defines the organization's long-term technical strategy. Creates foundational technologies. Pushes boundaries of what's technically possible. |
Skills Mission Impact | Delivers features that contribute to team goals. Understands how their work supports Khan Academy's educational mission. | Delivers projects with significant impact on learners. Identifies high-leverage improvements. Connects technical work to educational outcomes. | Drives strategic initiatives that significantly advance the mission. Creates outsized impact through technical leadership across teams. | Delivers transformational technical change that reshapes how the organization serves learners. Impact shapes Khan Academy's trajectory. |
Skills Problem Solving & Judgment | Solves well-defined problems with some guidance. Learning to break down larger problems into manageable pieces. | Tackles ambiguous problems independently. Makes sound technical judgments. Balances competing concerns pragmatically. | Solves the most complex cross-team problems. Creates frameworks and patterns that help others. Anticipates challenges proactively. | Defines entirely new problem spaces. Creates solutions that change the industry. Exercises exceptional judgment under uncertainty. |
Skills Communication & Collaboration | Communicates clearly within the team. Collaborates effectively with teammates. Shares progress and asks for help. | Communicates effectively across teams. Explains complex topics to diverse audiences. Gives constructive feedback. Partners with product and design. | Communicates technical vision across the organization. Influences without authority. Drives alignment on complex decisions. Bridges engineering and mission. | Communicates at the executive level. Shapes organizational strategy. Represents Khan Academy externally as a technical and mission leader. |
Skills Mentorship & Leadership | Seeks mentorship and growth opportunities. Supports teammates. Contributes to team culture. | Mentors junior engineers. Participates in hiring. Leads technical discussions. Drives improvements to team practices. | Grows and develops senior engineers. Leads cross-team initiatives. Shapes engineering culture. Establishes mentorship programs. | Builds the next generation of technical leaders. Defines engineering values and culture. Industry thought leader in education technology. |
Skills Learning & Growth Mindset | Actively learning and developing skills. Curious and open to feedback. Embraces Khan Academy's culture of continuous learning. | Models continuous learning. Stays current with industry trends. Shares knowledge through talks, blog posts, and documentation. | Champions a learning culture across the organization. Creates opportunities for others to learn and grow. Drives knowledge sharing at scale. | Embodies lifelong learning. Pushes the organization to continuously evolve. Creates learning pathways that benefit the entire industry. |
Framework by Khan Academy · Licensed
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