System-Wide Architecture Ownership
4-6 monthsSkills You'll Build
Multi-system architecture designLong-term technical visionArchitecture decision recordsTechnical debt strategyPlatform thinking
Senior AI Engineer → Staff AI Engineer
Senior to Staff AI Engineer Career Progression
Progress from senior to staff-level AI engineering. This path focuses on expanding scope from feature ownership to system-wide impact. Master technical leadership, cross-team influence, and strategic thinking while maintaining hands-on excellence. Salary progression from $150k-$250k to $250k-$400k+ total compensation.
18-30 months
Prerequisites
- 3-5 years as senior AI engineer
- Production system ownership
- Technical mentoring experience
- Cross-team collaboration
- Strong communication skills
Your Learning Path
Cross-Team Technical Leadership
4-6 monthsSkills You'll Build
Influence without authorityBuilding technical consensusLeading technical initiativesDriving org-wide standardsTechnical roadmap ownership
Mentorship and Knowledge Scaling
3-4 monthsSkills You'll Build
Mentoring senior engineersBuilding learning programsKnowledge documentationTech talks and trainingGrowing future leads
Strategic Technical Contribution
3-4 monthsSkills You'll Build
Technical strategy inputBuild vs buy decisionsVendor evaluationsTechnology betsIndustry awareness
Scope and Impact Demonstration
3-4 monthsSkills You'll Build
Quantifying org-wide impactStaff promotion narrativesVisibility and recognitionExecutive communicationCareer portfolio building
Compensation and Positioning
OngoingSkills You'll Build
Staff-level compensation researchNegotiation at senior levelsAlternative offers leverageLong-term career planningPersonal brand building