Career Ladder Inspiration · Engineering
Capgemini's engineering career framework
Software engineering grade ladder from Capgemini covering 6 competency areas across 5 levels. Created by UK engineering teams to understand ethos, values, and expectations at each level.
Associate Engineer | Engineer | Senior Engineer | Lead Engineer | Principal Engineer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Skills Technical Proficiency | Developing core programming skills. Learning the team's technology stack and coding standards. Can complete small tasks with guidance. | Proficient in the team's technology stack. Writes clean, well-tested code. Understands system architecture at a component level. | Deep expertise in one or more technologies. Designs and implements complex features. Makes sound architectural decisions. Champions best practices. | Expert across multiple technologies. Architects complex, scalable systems. Sets technical standards for the team. Evaluates new technologies strategically. | Industry-recognized technical expertise. Defines long-term technical strategy. Creates novel solutions. Pushes the boundaries of what's technically possible. |
Skills Delivery & Quality | Delivers small, well-defined tasks with guidance. Learning to estimate work. Follows team quality standards. | Delivers features independently and reliably. Estimates accurately. Ensures quality through testing and code review. Ships consistently. | Leads delivery of complex projects. Balances quality, scope, and timeline. Identifies and mitigates risks. Drives continuous improvement in delivery practices. | Drives delivery excellence across multiple projects. Creates processes that improve team velocity and quality. Manages complex dependencies. | Accountable for delivery of the most critical organizational initiatives. Establishes delivery standards that scale. |
Skills Problem Solving | Solves well-defined problems with support. Developing debugging and troubleshooting skills. | Solves moderately complex problems independently. Identifies root causes. Proposes practical solutions. | Tackles ambiguous, complex problems. Creates frameworks that help others solve similar problems. Thinks systemically about issues. | Solves the most complex cross-team problems. Anticipates future challenges. Creates proactive, scalable solutions. | Defines entirely new problem spaces. Creates approaches that change how the organization thinks about and solves problems. |
Skills Collaboration & Communication | Communicates clearly about own work. Participates in team ceremonies. Learning to collaborate effectively. | Communicates proactively. Collaborates effectively with cross-functional partners. Gives constructive feedback in reviews. | Communicates complex technical concepts to diverse audiences. Facilitates productive discussions. Drives alignment within and across teams. | Drives cross-team communication and alignment. Communicates technical vision to leadership. Bridges engineering and business perspectives. | Communicates at the executive level. Shapes organizational narratives around technology. Represents the company externally. |
Skills Growth & Leadership | Seeks mentorship. Eager to learn. Open to feedback. | Mentors newer engineers. Participates in hiring. Starting to influence team processes and culture. | Mentors and develops engineers. Leads technical design discussions. Drives improvements to team practices. Shapes team culture. | Grows senior engineers into leaders. Leads cross-team initiatives. Shapes engineering culture broadly. Champions diversity and inclusion. | Builds the next generation of technical leaders. Defines engineering values and culture at scale. Industry thought leader. |
Skills Values & Ethos | Learning the team's values and working practices. Demonstrates curiosity and commitment to growth. | Embodies team values in daily work. Contributes positively to team culture. Supports colleagues. | Champions team values. Creates psychologically safe environments. Models the behaviors expected at the organization. | Actively shapes and evolves team culture. Ensures values are reflected in processes, hiring, and daily work. | Defines and champions organizational values. Ensures culture scales as the organization grows. |
Framework by Capgemini · Licensed
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