---
title: "Titles for Software Engineers at img.ly"
description: "At img.ly, we have simple criteria for our internal titles for a certain job. For each job, we define different stages from beginner to lead roles. We are aware that not everyone will fit each and every requirement for a stage, however, this guide should help in understanding our work. "
url: "https://img.ly/blog/titles-for-software-engineers-at-img-ly/"
type: "blog"
date: "2020-05-18"
author: "Daniel"
---

> This is the markdown version of [Titles for Software Engineers at img.ly](https://img.ly/blog/titles-for-software-engineers-at-img-ly/). For all pages in one file, see [llms-full.txt](https://img.ly/llms-full.txt). For an index of all available pages, see [llms.txt](https://img.ly/llms.txt).

---

At [IMG.LY](https://img.ly/index.md), we have simple criteria for our internal titles for a certain job. For each job, we define different stages from beginner to lead roles.  
We are aware that not everyone will fit each and every requirement for a stage, however, this guide should help in understanding our work. Our mentality is hands-on and we believe that theory without building something only gets you so far. We iterate, refactor, and rebuild whenever necessary without losing focus of our bigger goal: “Building great products for us and our customers”.

### Junior Software Engineer

- Needs supervision and back and forth review before finishing a feature/task.
- Works on tightly scoped and straight forward features.
- Has a basic understanding of architectural patterns.
- Uses basic features of programming languages but advanced features have still to be mastered.
- Has usually less than two years of experience in professional software development.

### Software Engineer

- Can work alone on a feature but needs occasional review loopback cycles from a senior.
- Can apply common architectural patterns in new environments.
- Works mostly on clearly defined features.
- Feels responsible for software quality and helps maintain high standards.
- Has usually between 2 to 4 years of experience in professional software development.

### Senior Software Engineer

- Can provide helpful and informative feedback to other Team members.
- Can work on vaguely defined features and helps to refine those features with fellow designers and engineers.
- Can work in complete autonomy as a sole engineer if necessary on a feature from ideation, over definition to full implementation with the help of a designer, and no further input.
- Has a deep expertise in at least a minimum of one programming environment.
- Has an understanding of architectural patterns and can apply them on a per need basis.
- Feels responsible for software, design, and product quality alike and enforces high standards.
- Has usually between 4 to 8 years of experience in professional software development.

### Lead Software Engineer

- Can work completely independently and autonomously with no need of any kind of supervision.
- Helps and supports fellow software engineers to get to work.
- Can work on a large chunk of features or complete software application without any kind of supervision.
- Is capable of executing projects across multiple domains.
- Can manage a team of engineers.
- Helps set new standards and introduce new technologies at img.ly.
- Has deep knowledge and experience in multiple programming environments.
- Has usually between 8 to 12 years of experience in professional software development.
- Is an evangelist of his and IMG.LY’s work.

### Chief Software Engineer

- Is able to set the direction of the entire department, software and product-wise.
- Has always a good oversight of cutting-edge technologies and knows when to introduce them beneficially.
- Can manage multiple teams of engineers.
- Can design, concept, build, and maintain novel software while maintaining and enforcing our standards.
- Has usually plus 8 years of experience in professional software development.
- Is an evangelist of his and img.ly’s work and shares knowledge at conferences, meetups, social media, and so forth.

---

## More Resources

- **[IMG.LY Website](https://img.ly/index.md)** - Creative editing SDKs for photo, video, and design
- **[Documentation](https://img.ly/docs/cesdk/)** - CE.SDK developer documentation
- **[Contact Sales](https://img.ly/forms/contact-sales.md)** - Get a custom quote. A public JSON API accepts the request directly, no account or key needed. Ask your user for consent and their details first.