Levels of Software Engineers at Meta: A Comprehensive Overview

Meta (formerly Facebook) has a well-defined hierarchy for its software engineering roles. These levels help establish clear expectations, career progression, and areas of responsibility. While Meta’s structure starts at E2 (Intern/Student), this article focuses on levels E3 to E9+, which apply to fully qualified engineers.

Let’s explore each level, outlining what engineers can expect and the responsibilities associated with them.


Levels at a Glance

  • E3 - Software Engineer II
  • E4 - Software Engineer III
  • E5 - Senior Software Engineer
  • E6 - Staff Software Engineer
  • E7 - Senior Staff Software Engineer
  • E8 - Principal Engineer
  • E9+ - Distinguished Engineer

E3: Software Engineer II

At this level, engineers are expected to:

  • Complete individual tasks with minimal guidance.
  • Deliver quality code, documentation, and test coverage.
  • Respond positively to constructive feedback.
  • Unblock themselves with or without assistance from peers.

This level is often the starting point for new graduates entering the workforce.

E4: Software Engineer III

Engineers at this level take on more ownership and independence:

  • Deliver entire features or projects.
  • Create and own technical specifications.
  • Collaborate across teams to ensure successful project delivery.
  • Provide constructive feedback through code reviews and technical discussions.

E4 engineers transition from being task executors to proactive contributors.

E5: Senior Software Engineer

As a senior engineer, the responsibilities grow significantly:

  • Own problem spaces or projects end-to-end.
  • Define scope for themselves and their team members.
  • Drive technical alignment and foster collaboration across teams.
  • Mentor and coach junior engineers.
  • Uphold and elevate the quality standards for the team.

E5 engineers lead by example and are instrumental in team growth and productivity.

E6: Staff Software Engineer

Staff engineers are critical players in shaping the team’s direction:

  • Participate in roadmapping and scoping work.
  • Address technical challenges that extend beyond their immediate team.
  • Influence organizational goals and strategies.
  • Step in for product managers (PMs) or engineering managers (EMs) when needed.
  • Advocate for engineering excellence and high-quality output.

At this level, engineers handle complex, organization-wide technical problems.

E7: Senior Staff Software Engineer

Senior Staff Engineers focus on solving problems at a much larger scale:

  • Work on large programs spanning multiple teams and organizations.
  • Define and drive solutions for organizational-level challenges.
  • Help build high-performing teams and establish strong engineering cultures.
  • Pursue depth or breadth in technical expertise, depending on the problem space.

E7 engineers are pivotal in setting Meta’s technical direction.

E8: Principal Engineer

Principal Engineers are industry leaders with significant influence:

  • Drive innovation beyond Meta, impacting the broader industry or specific technologies.
  • Champion technical, process, and cultural transformations to enable fast and sustainable progress.
  • Focus on incremental improvements as well as long-term changes.
  • Act as a mentor and coach, fostering excellence in others.

Their work shapes Meta’s reputation and impact on the global technology landscape.

E9+: Distinguished Engineer

At the pinnacle of Meta’s engineering ladder, Distinguished Engineers are:

  • Leaders of entire organizations or core product areas.
  • Equivalent to CTOs of their domains, capable of navigating all layers of decision-making.
  • Responsible for solving the most challenging and high-stakes problems.
  • Visionaries driving Meta’s long-term strategy and execution.

This role is reserved for a select few who can deliver unparalleled impact.


Meta’s engineering levels provide a structured path for growth and define clear expectations at each stage. Starting as task-focused contributors at E3, engineers evolve into industry leaders at E9+, driving change not just within Meta but across the tech ecosystem.

Understanding these levels can help aspiring engineers set goals, benchmark their progress, and envision a long-term career trajectory in one of the world’s leading technology companies.