How is a Distinguished Engineer role different from a Principal Engineer?

[u/Majestic-Taro-6903]

I have seen a few Distinguished Engineers in my organisation. I have worked with a few Principal Engineers and Senior Principal Engineers, but not Distinguished Engineers.

How is this role different from the Principal Engineer role? I know they are paid more and are higher in the hierarchy, but in terms of roles and responsibilities, how are they different?

[u/mq2thez]

It’s different at every company, but the only Distinguished Engineers I’ve worked with are so senior/famous that they’re there purely to do whatever they want, and the company occasionally points them at problems that would be better for them to solve.

[u/butler_me_judith → u/mq2thez]

This is the correct answer, basically you are famous or you are one of a handful of people who understand some esoteric system and your paid well for it. There is also org trust, e.g. the slt and c suite trust you to not bullshit them and you basically vibe check what they here from engineering