Cross-Company Mapping

Translating offers across different ladders:

• Map responsibilities, not titles. Compare scope, autonomy, ambiguity, influence.
• Use artifacts: sample RFCs, design docs, oncall severity, traffic/scale.
• Ask, “At this level, what’s a bar-raising project from the last 6 months?” Then imagine yourself doing it comfortably.

Rule of thumb: if you’d be stretching just to survive the first 90 days, you’re likely a level too high. If you could lead with one hand tied, maybe a level too low.