10 Years of Engineering Ladders

Overview
A ten-year reflection on engineering career ladders, tracing the origins of the Rent the Runway engineering ladder published in 2015 and discussing how the concept has matured, been adopted, and influenced technical leadership practices across the industry.

Key Takeaways

• Engineering ladders provide clear expectations and growth paths for technical contributors.
• Regularly revisiting and updating ladder criteria keeps them relevant as technology and organizational needs evolve.
• Transparency around promotion criteria improves trust and retention.
• Balancing breadth versus depth in ladders helps accommodate diverse career aspirations.
• Inclusive language and equitable criteria are essential for diverse teams.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers designing or revising career frameworks.
• Senior engineers aspiring to leadership roles.
• CTOs and VP of Engineering shaping technical culture.
• HR partners supporting technical career development.
• Anyone interested in systematic approaches to technical growth.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Competency-based ladders.
• Role-level matrices.
• Continuous feedback loops.
• Transparent promotion processes.
• Inclusive design principles.