[scottlamb]

> Shortly after he turned 18, Google hired him as an L4 software engineer, a position typically offered to candidates with multiple years of professional experience as well as a college degree.

L4 is the entry level for Google's SWE position, and Google absolutely hires SWEs straight out of college (no professional experience). A Google SWE without a college degree is more rare but I know a few. I'd never heard of an 18-year-old landing a full-time Google SWE position, though. Congratulations to him!

edit: sorry, got mixed up, entry level is L3. Thanks for the correction.

[altgoogler]

Googler here.

L4 requires experience. New grad hires are L3.

[scottlamb]

Oh, you're right, I spaced. I've been away from Google for a few years now, and I remembered the titles and Lx being off from each other but had it mixed up. Thanks for speaking up; I was wondering what the deal was with the downvotes.

    * L3 = Software Engineer II, entry level. (There's no Software Engineer I.)
    * L4 = Software Engineer III.
    * L5 = Senior Software Engineer.
    * L6 = Staff Software Engineer.
    * ...

[teaearlgraycold]

Aren't interns L2?

[gresrun]

L3 is entry-level for fresh college grads.