[powowow]

I'm a Sr Manager at a FAANG company (and I started here in my 40s). My direct reports include other SDMs, senior product managers, and staff/principal engineers.

You mention "trying" for management. If you haven't previously managed people, then you probably won't be able to get a good SDM role directly. Instead, your best path would be to be hired as an SDE, demonstrate strong managerial bones (mentorship, communication, process orientation), and then transition to SDM after a few years.

If you've mostly been an engineer, then you may want to learn more about what's expected from different levels of engineer so you can determine, realistically, where your experience will be sufficient, and where there will be gap.

[ryandrake]

> You mention "trying" for management. If you haven't previously managed people, then you probably won't be able to get a good SDM role directly.

This is very true. No company I’ve interviewed with so far was willing to hire a manager who hasn’t previously managed people.

> Instead, your best path would be to be hired as an SDE, demonstrate strong managerial bones

I’ve tried this strategy a number of times and I wish it was that straightforward. Usually, even internal management roles are set aside for people who have already managed people before. So, you’ll take the time to be an outstanding IC, develop credibility with the team and good communication skills, focus on process building... then finally the workload grows to the point where you need more than yourself and you think “now is my chance!” You go to your manager and propose to hire a few people under you and SURPRISE he already hired an experienced manager who will have three reports including you! Bummer!

[fatnoah]

>I’ve tried this strategy a number of times and I wish it was that straightforward.

I'm currently at a FAANG and it is that straightforward. You don't just say, "hey, I should have people under me" but you do say that you're interested in managing folks some day. The company even offers a specific development track and training for people that want to do that.

That's also how I got into management at a non-FAANG company. I was hired as an IC, but indicated that my desire was to be a manager. I eventually became a VP.

Obviously every place is different, but you do need to make your desires known.

[syndacks]

I'm curious if you can answer the question I posed on this thread a few sibblings up. Thanks.

[fatnoah]

It looks like another user answered your question and covered it well, but I'll add my own color as well.

>What's the bar for being hired as a FAANG engineering manager?

In my past cycle I interviewed at, and received offers from two of the FAANGs. Past Engineering management experience was required and experience managing other managers was definitely a big plus. I think it's that latter bit that really makes a candidate very attractive since there seems to be high demand. A history of strong IC experience and technical leadership was also required.

I didn't have FAANG experience, but did have significant startup experience and a clear career progression, culminating in a few years at larger (>10k people) companies. One benefit of startup work is that the majority of my past experience is being the primary architect & owner of complicated production codebases and systems. The larger companies provided an opportunity to show how I was effective working cross functionally and getting things done in orgs where I was not in the chain of command.

So, tl;dr: is that strong IC background plus a few years of management are required, but specific types of experience can make you more attractive.

[syndacks]

What's the bar for being hired as a FAANG engineering manager? Prev FAANG management experience? Prev FAANG IC role? Cursory LinkedIn searches show many FAANG engineering managers were promoted from within or came from a similar position at a similar company.

FWIW I've been both an IC before and have steadily moved to CTO at my current startup. I come from a non traditional background (non CS) but had several leadership roles there.

[nbm]

Answered at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21985518

[kemiller]

I should be clear. I’ve been in hybrid or management positions for many years now so it’s not a matter of trying out managing, it’s a matter of going in cold.