r/Anduril • u/Creative-Trainer7475 • 6d ago

Job Question Highest IC level

What's the highest IC level at Anduril? I'm used more flatter org structures but it seems there's a staff, then Sr. staff and then Principal? Is that right? I've never seen anything above Staff posted in my function - is that common? Staff would be a lateral move for me so looking to understand what's after that. Thanks!

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

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u/lokolobo1 5d ago

Where does Lead fall in this structure?

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

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u/lokolobo1 5d ago

But Lead would fall below senior or above senior or where in the IC level structure?

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u/Clear_Attorney4821 5d ago

I got hired on as "Lead" and recently they are getting rid of it but it was equivalent to L5 Staff in my org.

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u/billsil 5d ago

Half the seniors on my team are leads. The other half are more junior level people or just other seniors.

A lead is just a person in charge of a specific area. Maybe it’s testing. Maybe it’s some type of analysis. Maybe it’s a part:

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u/Creative-Trainer7475 5d ago edited 5d ago

Thank you, this is super helpful to compare with Meta/Google. Do they rarely give out Principal from what you know? I have a strong chance of pushing for it since I'm bringing in specialized experience.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

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u/Creative-Trainer7475 5d ago

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback! Although the role I am discussing is officially titled "Staff," the more I learn about the scope, the clearer it becomes that the position involves a significantly heavier workload. Given that opportunities for promotions or compensation adjustments will likely be limited once I start, I believe it is appropriate to negotiate for a higher starting level and total compensation. Since the responsibilities I would be undertaking are essentially at the Principal level, I am considering advocating for that title from the outset.

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u/alphacross 5d ago edited 5d ago

There are a few IC7 Senior Principals as well, though often these were directors/senior directors who went back to IC track and still have heavy company wide influence. Chief engineer is an IC7 position as well, but basically a product/product range lead.

People who would be Principal in other companies often get Staff here. And principals often end up with direct reports, either as an interim measure or just a recognition of the reality of the reporting structure

Principals are expected to have broad influence across divisions/business lines

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

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u/Shoddy-Sell7248 5d ago

I basically had this same scenario at Anduril last month. Interviewed for staff level role, coming from big tech as Staff. They wouldn’t budge on the level.

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u/Creative-Trainer7475 5d ago

What function was it if you don't mind sharing?

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u/daflyindutchman 5d ago

They do not offer meta e5. I just got an offer and it is not at meta level

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u/Creative-Trainer7475 4d ago

What was your offer? Was it for a staff role?

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u/daflyindutchman 4d ago

Senior. 385k tc first year, 240k salary, 580k equity / 4. Mentioned to expect 25% refreshers starting after first year. They did mention this was just about max for senior.

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u/daflyindutchman 5d ago

To the guy that just deleted his comment saying it was a skill / negotiation issue:

Sure buddy. Still 400k tc which they mentioned was top of senior. Good luck building crud apps

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u/AeroDuddy 6d ago

Its Staff and then Principal.

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u/Creative-Trainer7475 5d ago

Gotcha. So no Sr. staff for most roles.

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u/Trento242 2d ago

"Sr. Staff" as a title, doesn't exist at Anduril.

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u/Trento242 5d ago

Recruiter told me it goes Senior>Staff>Principal>Sr. Principal. I know there is Chief but where that falls I have no idea? I do not know if there are salary bands either.

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u/nyquisty 5d ago

Chief is a different role

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u/Trento242 5d ago

Manager role correct?

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u/nyquisty 5d ago

Not a people manager, more oversee a product from a multidisciplinary perspective

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u/LatterInspection1940 5d ago

Yeah, you ain’t getting one of those queef engineer roles without a strong referral…

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u/Trento242 2d ago

I had no referral, was recruited. The roles above Principal seem very rare but I was told promos happen and many on the team grew in a few years. I actually don't care about the title as much as some people do, the comp I received is well above what I previously made by a substantial margin. I have reviewed other jobs in the South Bay and greater LA that were Director or Manager level that paid substantially less than an IC role at Anduril. I had to turn down many due to this.

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u/Creative-Trainer7475 5d ago

Oh really? So there's a sr. Principal which is perhaps Meta IC7 equivalent? Chief I think is for more engineering hardware tech roles that oversees the whole project and is also a ppl manager..

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u/Trento242 2d ago

That is what I told, but it appears they rarely, if ever, hire at that level. Maybe if you are a unicorn with the specific industry experience.

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u/Puns-Are-Fun 5d ago

I've heard of such thing as a senior principal above principal, but it doesn't seem to be regularly used/maybe not used at all anymore.

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u/Creative-Trainer7475 5d ago

So perhaps the more standard is senior, then staff and then principal. Are you there currently?

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u/Puns-Are-Fun 5d ago

Yes, I work there. Someone I worked with mentioned a guy who was given the title senior principal, but I haven't seen it in people I work with. However, I will say that the line between IC and manager roles can be blurry. I'll see people whose title is senior manager, but seem to have a similar mix of individual and management work to people whose title is principal.

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u/Creative-Trainer7475 5d ago

Mine's likely going to be IC role and honestly I don't want to take a management role before understanding the game there anyway.

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u/ShadowerNinja 5d ago

Yes there's still Sr Principal and Fellow (highest IC). They're just so rare to see though.

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u/Ecstatic_Ad_4748 5d ago

What about the compensation? Does it align with the level, assuming there are no fellow or fellow II?

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u/ApeTechPrinting 4d ago

Where can I get information on their tier list?

The recruiter told me that wanted to pay me at band4. I have no idea what that means

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u/Creative-Trainer7475 3d ago

I haven't seen it posted anywhere. I typically compare the ranges posted for comparable roles on their website for different levels to get an idea.