[checker659]

Is Staff SWE different from regular SWE? What's the difference?

[4k]

Iirc, staff SWE is Google's equivalent of Principal Engineer.

[Bahamut]

I think Google has principal engineers as well - a staff engineer at Google probably is equivalent to a principal engineer at most companies though.

[dx034]

For someone not working in tech, what is the difference between an engineer and a principal engineer?

[rndmswethrwawy]

It (staff) is a level, one past senior engineer.

The difference is that senior engineers do something resembling engineering. When not attending meetings, I turn coffee into emails and Google docs.

[SmellTheGlove]

> The difference is that senior engineers do something resembling engineering. When not attending meetings, I turn coffee into emails and Google docs.

I like you.

[arebop]

The Principal has a very distinguished and widely-recognized track record of achievement.

[beamatronic]

What's interesting here is the social dimension of this. It's not enough that you are competent and have achievements. They key is that your achievements are recognized socially.

[ben0x539]

principal engineer is when you want to give someone more salary but they dont wanna be a manager