---
title: "Tech Lead"
source: Engineering Ladders (jorgef)
source_url: https://github.com/jorgef/engineeringladders
licence: Apache-2.0
domain: engineering
subdomain: engineering-ladders
date_added: 2026-04-25
---

# Tech Lead

Role also known as dev lead, is the owner of the system and requires a unique balance between hands-on development, architecture knowledge and production support.

| Level | Senior | Position |
| :---: | :---: | :---: |
| 4 | Yes | [TL4 - Tech Lead 4](#tl4---tech-lead-4) |
| 5 | Yes | [TL5 - Tech Lead 5](#tl5---tech-lead-5) |
| 6 | Yes | [TL6 - Tech Lead 6](#tl6---tech-lead-6) |
| 7 | Yes | [TL7 - Tech Lead 7](#tl7---tech-lead-7) |


## TL4 - Tech Lead 4

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* **Specializes**: is the go-to person for one or more technologies and takes initiative to learn new ones
* **Owns**: owns the production operation and monitoring of the system and is aware of its SLAs
* **Coordinates**: coordinates team members providing effective feedback and moderating discussions
* **Adjusts**: adjusts the team processes, listening to feedback and guiding the team through the changes
* **Subsystem**: makes an impact on one or more subsystems or team pods

## TL5 - Tech Lead 5

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* **Evangelizes**: researches, creates proofs of concept and introduces new technologies to the team
* **Evolves**: evolves the architecture to support future requirements and defines its SLAs
* **Coordinates**: coordinates team members providing effective feedback and moderating discussions
* **Defines**: defines the right processes for the team's maturity level, balancing agility and discipline
* **Team**: makes an impact on the whole team, not just on specific parts of it

## TL6 - Tech Lead 6

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* **Masters**: has very deep knowledge about the whole technology stack of the system
* **Leads**: leads the technical excellence of the system and creates plans to mitigate outages
* **Coordinates**: coordinates team members providing effective feedback and moderating discussions
* **Defines**: defines the right processes for the team's maturity level, balancing agility and discipline
* **Multiple Teams**: makes an impact not only on the whole team but also on other teams

## TL7 - Tech Lead 7

<picture>
  <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="/charts/techlead-7-dark.png">
  <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="/charts/techlead-7.png">
  
</picture>

* **Masters**: has very deep knowledge about the whole technology stack of the system
* **Leads**: leads the technical excellence of the system and creates plans to mitigate outages
* **Coordinates**: coordinates team members providing effective feedback and moderating discussions
* **Defines**: defines the right processes for the team's maturity level, balancing agility and discipline
* **Company**: makes an impact on the whole tech organization

# Other Pages

* [**Introduction**](README.md)
* [**Developer**](Developer.md)
* [**Technical Program Manager**](TechnicalProgramManager.md)
* [**Engineering Manager**](EngineeringManager.md)
* [**Tech Lead vs Engineering Manager**](TechLead-EngineeringManager.md)
* [**Managing Managers**](Managing-Managers.md)
