A frontend developer builds deep technical expertise, executes on product deliverables, and (at higher levels) owns system, architecture & deployment of products and features.
Each role below outlines a description of responsibilities, experience, and expected performance across different axes .
Entry-level frontend engineer
Technology (1) System (1) People (1) Process (1) Influence (1) Diagram
Adopts : actively learns and adopts the technology and tools defined by the team
Comfortable with Javascript/HTML/CSS, React, Redux, additional open-source libraries
New to field, 0-2 years experience in web development, school or demo projects
Enhances : successfully pushes new features and bug fixes to improve and extend the system
Builds components and small features
Researches and learns new technical areas
Learns : quickly learns from others and consistently steps up when it is required
Participates in team meetings
Builds respectful relationships within team
Communicates needs and goals to manager
Clear written and verbal communication
Follows : follows the team processes, delivering a consistent flow of features to production
Receives detailed direction on all work
Receives feedback from teammates and demonstrates improvement
Keeps team informed of progress of deliverables
Takes responsibility for communicating obstacles to team
Subsystem : makes an impact on one or more subsystems or team pods
Operates within team, with a bias towards optimizing the team's productivity
Technology (1) System (2) People (2) Process (2) Influence (1) Diagram
Adopts : actively learns and adopts the technology and tools defined by the team
Proficient at Javascript/HTML/CSS, React, Redux, additional open-source libraries
2-4 years experience in web development
Consistently delivers high quality work, on time, independently and as part of team
Designs : designs and implements medium to large size features while reducing the system's tech debt
Builds components and small features
Contributes to projects with larger scope, demonstrating ownership of complex pieces.
Debugs and resolves simple issues unassisted, and more complex issues with guidance
Researches and learns new technical areas
Supports : proactively supports other team members and helps them to be successful
Actively engages in team meetings
Builds relationships focused on collaboration, to enable productivity in teammates
Works with manager to articulate needs and goals
Excellent written and verbal communication
Resolves conflicts respectfully and in a timely manner
Open to diverse perspectives and ways of working
Shares recognition of work across team, positively reinforces others' contributions
Enforces : enforces the team processes, making sure everybody understands the benefits and tradeoffs
Receives general direction on routine work, detailed direction on newer assignments
Adept at acknowledging and receiving feedback, and applying to improve work
Keeps team informed of progress of deliverables
Determines appropriate action by exercising judgement within defined practices
Set personal priorities and work plan, while integrating dependencies on others' work
Offers alternatives, incorporates input from others, asks for clarification
Subsystem : makes an impact on one or more subsystems or team pods
Operates generally within team, with increasing awareness of influence of team's work within the department
Advanced frontend engineer
Technology (2) System (2) People (2) Process (3) Influence (2) Diagram
Specializes : is the go-to person for one or more technologies and takes initiative to learn new ones
Expert in Javascript/HTML/CSS, React, Redux, additional open-source libraries
3-5 years experience in web development
Develops complete designs that satisfy design and engineering requirements
Consistently delivers high quality work, on time, independently or as part of team
Designs : designs and implements medium to large size features while reducing the system's tech debt
Builds components and small features
Contributes to projects with larger scope, demonstrating ownership of complex pieces.
Specializes in multiple components or modules and understands dependencies between modules
Debugs and resolves simple issues unassisted, and more complex issues with guidance
Able to work on multiple projects with different scopes
Writes clear documentation
Considers diagnosibility, portability, reliability, maintainibility of features
Proactively researches and learns new technical areas
Supports : proactively supports other team members and helps them to be successful
Proactive information sharing across teams, engagement in team meetings
Builds relationships focused on collaboration, to enable productivity in teammates
Works with manager to articulate needs and goals
Excellent written and verbal communication
Resolves conflicts respectfully and in a timely manner
Open to diverse perspectives and ways of working
Shares recognition of work across team, positively reinforces others' contributions
Facilitate problem solving and work planning
Considers others' schedules and priorities while managing own timeline
Challenges : challenges the team processes, looking for ways to improve them
Receives general direction on routine work, detailed direction on newer assignments
Adept at acknowledging and receiving feedback, and applying to improve work
Keeps team informed of progress of deliverables
Able to debate options, gather different perspective, and make recommendations
Asks for input and incorporates ideas and solutions from others
Demonstrates research and good judgement when choosing problem solving approaches
Set personal priorities and work plan, while integrating dependencies on others' work
Balances short term gains and long term benefit
Team : makes an impact on the whole team, not just on specific parts of it
Operates with peers across the team, with increasing awareness of influence of team's work within the department
Strong focus on building productive relationships across team members
Technology (3) System (3) People (3) Process (3) Influence (2) Diagram
Evangelizes : researches, creates proofs of concept and introduces new technologies to the team
Expert in Javascript/HTML/CSS, React, Redux, additional open-source libraries
4-7 years experience in web development
Develops complete designs that satisfy design and engineering requirements
Consistently delivers high quality work, on time, independently or as part of team
Owns : owns the production operation and monitoring of the system
Contributes to projects with larger scope, demonstrating ownership of complex pieces, especially those that require collaboration with other teams.
Specializes in multiple components or modules and understands dependencies between modules
Debugs and resolves simple and complex issues unassisted
Able to work on multiple projects with different scopes
Writes clear documentation
Considers diagnosibility, portability, reliability, maintainibility of features
Proactively researches and learns new technical areas
Mentors : mentors others to accelerate their career-growth and encourages them to participate
Proactive information sharing across teams, engagement in team meetings
Builds relationships focused on collaboration, to enable productivity in teammates
Works with manager to articulate needs and goals
Excellent written and verbal communication
Resolves conflicts respectfully and in a timely manner
Open to diverse perspectives and ways of working
Shares recognition of work across team, positively reinforces others' contributions
Facilitate problem solving and work planning
Considers others' schedules and priorities while managing own timeline
Represents their team, and considers the impact to the team, when in conversations with others.
Challenges : challenges the team processes, looking for ways to improve them
Receives general direction on routine work, detailed direction on newer assignments
Adept at acknowledging and receiving feedback, and applying to improve work
Keeps team informed of progress of deliverables
Able to debate options, gather different perspective, and make recommendations
Asks for input and incorporates ideas and solutions from others
Demonstrates research and good judgement when choosing problem solving approaches
Set personal priorities and work plan, while integrating dependencies on others' work
Balances short term gains and long term benefit
Team : makes an impact on the whole team, not just on specific parts of it
Operates with peers across the team, with awareness of influence of team's work within the department
Strong focus on building productive relationships across team members
Technology (4) System (4) People (3) Process (4) Influence (3) Diagram
Masters : has very deep knowledge about the whole technology stack of the system
Expert in Javascript/HTML/CSS, React, Redux, additional open-source libraries
6-9 years experience in web development
Develops complete designs that satisfy design and engineering requirements
Consistently delivers high quality work, on time, independently or as part of team
Evolves : evolves the architecture to support future requirements and defines its SLAs
Contributes to projects with larger scope, demonstrating ownership of complex pieces, especially those that require collaboration with other teams.
Specializes in multiple components or modules and understands dependencies between modules
Debugs and resolves simple and complex issues unassisted
Able to work on multiple projects with different scopes
Writes clear documentation
Considers diagnosibility, portability, reliability, maintainibility of features
Proactively researches and learns new technical areas
Strong working knowledge of backend systems; able to design and build with whole stack in mind.
Mentors : mentors others to accelerate their career-growth and encourages them to participate
Proactive information sharing across teams, engagement in team meetings
Builds relationships focused on collaboration, to enable productivity in teammates
Works with manager to articulate needs and goals
Excellent written and verbal communication
Resolves conflicts respectfully and in a timely manner
Open to diverse perspectives and ways of working
Shares recognition of work across team, positively reinforces others' contributions
Facilitate problem solving and work planning
Considers others' schedules and priorities while managing own timeline
Represents their team, and considers the impact to the team, when in conversations with others.
Adjusts : adjusts the team processes, listening to feedback and guiding the team through the changes
Receives general direction on routine work and newer assignments
Adept at acknowledging and receiving feedback, and applying to improve work
Keeps team informed of progress of deliverables
Able to debate options, gather different perspective, and make recommendations
Asks for input and incorporates ideas and solutions from others
Demonstrates research and good judgement when choosing problem solving approaches
Set personal priorities and work plan, while integrating dependencies on others' work
Balances short term gains and long term benefit
Provides feedback that focuses on the business impact of the behavior
Iteratively works towards results on cross-team projects without over-analysis
Multi-team : makes an impact not only on the whole team but also on other teams
Operates with peers across the team, with awareness of influence of team's work within the department
Strong focus on building productive relationships across team members, and regularly engages with other teams
Identifies situations where collaboration between teams will yield good results.
Principal frontend engineer
Technology (5) System (5) People (3) Process (4) Influence (4) Diagram
Creates : designs and creates new technologies that are widely used either by internal or external teams
Expert in Javascript/HTML/CSS, React, Redux, additional open-source libraries
10-14 years experience in web development
Develops complete designs that satisfy design and engineering requirements
Consistently delivers high quality work, on time, independently or as part of team
Leads : leads the technical excellence of the system and creates plans to mitigate outages
Leads projects with larger scope, demonstrating ownership of complex pieces, especially those that require collaboration with other teams.
Specializes in multiple components or modules and understands dependencies between modules
Debugs and resolves simple and complex issues unassisted
Able to work on multiple projects with different scopes
Writes clear documentation
Considers diagnosibility, portability, reliability, maintainibility of features
Proactively researches and learns new technical areas
Strong working knowledge of backend systems; able to design and build with whole stack in mind.
Chooses work that is appropriate to their level and works with the Engineering Manager to assign work to other members of the team
Mentors : mentors others to accelerate their career-growth and encourages them to participate
Proactive information sharing across teams, engagement in team meetings
Builds relationships focused on collaboration, to enable productivity in teammates
Works with manager to articulate needs and goals
Excellent written and verbal communication
Resolves conflicts respectfully and in a timely manner
Open to diverse perspectives and ways of working
Shares recognition of work across team, positively reinforces others' contributions
Facilitate problem solving and work planning
Considers others' schedules and priorities while managing own timeline
Represents their team, and considers the impact to the team, when in conversations with others.
Adjusts : adjusts the team processes, listening to feedback and guiding the team through the changes
Receives general direction on routine work and newer assignments
Adept at acknowledging and receiving feedback, and applying to improve work
Keeps team informed of progress of deliverables
Able to debate options, gather different perspective, and make recommendations
Asks for input and incorporates ideas and solutions from others
Demonstrates research and good judgement when choosing problem solving approaches
Set personal priorities and work plan, while integrating dependencies on others' work
Balances short term gains and long term benefit
Provides feedback that focuses on the business impact of the behavior
Iteratively works towards results on cross-team projects without over-analysis
Company : makes an impact on the whole tech organization
Operates with peers across the team, with awareness of influence of team's work within the company
Strong focus on building productive relationships across team members, and regularly engages with other teams
Identifies situations where collaboration between teams will yield good results.
Distinguished frontend engineer
Technology (5) System (5) People (3) Process (4) Influence (5) Diagram
Creates : designs and creates new technologies that are widely used either by internal or external teams
Expert in Javascript/HTML/CSS, React, Redux, additional open-source libraries
12-15 years experience in web development
Develops complete designs that satisfy design and engineering requirements
Consistently delivers high quality work, on time, independently or as part of team
Leads : leads the technical excellence of the system and creates plans to mitigate outages
Leads projects with larger scope, demonstrating ownership of complex pieces, especially those that require collaboration with other teams.
Specializes in multiple components or modules and understands dependencies between modules
Debugs and resolves simple and complex issues unassisted
Able to work on multiple projects with different scopes
Writes clear documentation
Considers diagnosibility, portability, reliability, maintainibility of features
Proactively researches and learns new technical areas
Strong working knowledge of backend systems; able to design and build with whole stack in mind.
Chooses work that is appropriate to their level and works with the Engineering Manager to assign work to other members of the team
Mentors : mentors others to accelerate their career-growth and encourages them to participate
Proactive information sharing across teams, engagement in team meetings
Builds relationships focused on collaboration, to enable productivity in teammates
Works with manager to articulate needs and goals
Excellent written and verbal communication
Resolves conflicts respectfully and in a timely manner
Open to diverse perspectives and ways of working
Shares recognition of work across team, positively reinforces others' contributions
Facilitate problem solving and work planning
Considers others' schedules and priorities while managing own timeline
Represents their team, and considers the impact to the team, when in conversations with others.
Adjusts : adjusts the team processes, listening to feedback and guiding the team through the changes
Receives general direction on routine work and newer assignments
Adept at acknowledging and receiving feedback, and applying to improve work
Keeps team informed of progress of deliverables
Able to debate options, gather different perspective, and make recommendations
Asks for input and incorporates ideas and solutions from others
Demonstrates research and good judgement when choosing problem solving approaches
Set personal priorities and work plan, while integrating dependencies on others' work
Balances short term gains and long term benefit
Provides feedback that focuses on the business impact of the behavior
Iteratively works towards results on cross-team projects without over-analysis
Community : makes an impact on the tech community
Operates with peers across the team, with awareness of influence of team's work within the department
Strong focus on building productive relationships across team members, and regularly engages with other teams
Identifies situations where collaboration between teams will yield good results.
Public presence; conference/open-source contributions