# Engineering levels aren't about skill anymore

DevFeed: [Engineering levels aren't about skill anymore](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/engineering-levels-aren-t-about-skill-anymore-37620.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://swizec.com/blog/engineering-levels-arent-about-skill-anymore>)

Author: hi@swizec.com (Swizec Teller)

Published: 2026-05-19T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Swizec Teller](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/swizec-teller.md>)

Topics: [Job](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/job.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/systems.md>), [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>)

Tags: [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering.md>), [hiring](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/hiring.md>), [interviews](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/interviews.md>), [system-design](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/system-design.md>)

## AI overview

This commentary argues that engineering levels have shifted from a straightforward progression of coding skill to role expectations that vary by level. It describes responsibilities from entry-level engineering through staff-level work and says hiring decisions increasingly assess candidates through interviews, system design, and behavioral evaluation, with coding treated as a baseline.

## Source excerpt

Traditional engineering levels were about skill progression. I think this has changed. Everyone now is a mini staff engineer.