From Knowing to Mastery: SDE Levels and Guild Ranks
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I was talking to a colleague about an interesting parallel: the Amazon's SDE levels and the old European guild system are quite similar in that they both serve as microcosms that reflect how humans acquire new skills: progressing from knowing to understanding, applying, and finally reaching mastery. (L4 and Apprentice) **Amazon's L4s** are at the "knowing" stage, gathering foundational knowledge and gaining exposure to real-world applications. They learn programming languages, software development practices, and start to understand the ecosystem they operate in. **Apprentices** in the guild system were also in the "knowing" phase. They learned basic techniques and tools of the trade but were primarily observers. (L5 and Journeyman) **L5 engineers** at Amazon transition from knowing to understanding. They're not just coding; they're solving problems and understanding the "why" behind architectural decisions. They also start mentoring, which often deepens their own understanding. **Journeymen**, similarly, move from knowing how to execute tasks to understanding the craft deeply. They are skilled enough to work independently and begin to see how individual tasks contribute to a project's larger goals. This stage is about connecting the dots, turning raw knowledge into a more coherent understanding of the larger system. (L5 to L6 Transition) The transition from **L5 to L6** at Amazon marks the shift from understanding to applying. Here, engineers are not just executing tasks but also conceptualizing and leading projects, driving architectural decisions, and optimizing for scale and efficiency. **Journeyman** at this stage will work under different masters to broaden their skills and apply them to different projects. The emphasis here is on applying accumulated knowledge and understanding in real-world scenarios effectively and efficiently. (L6 and Master) Finally, **L6 engineers** reach the "mastery" stage, where their influence isn't confined to their immediate team but extends organization-wide. They're seen as thought leaders, and their expertise becomes a guiding force. **Masters** in the guild system have reached a similar pinnacle. Their skills are so honed that they become the standard-bearers of their craft, responsible for training the next generation. Moving from knowing to understanding, then applying, and finally attaining mastery internally is ideally accompanied by acquiring the job titles that represent the external recognition of your professional development by your organization. However the internal growth and the external recognition are not always in perfect sync. So as you move through your own journey, remember that each stage is an invaluable piece of the larger puzzle that adds up to mastery, it is the journey that matters at the end!