Exploring the IC Path

The IC career path: deliverables and impact

The IC role is similar to that of other IC roles like software developer. As it suggests, an IC will contribute directly to the success of the company through deliverables, whether that’s code for an SDE or delivering a project for a TPM. This role works as part of a team in the sense that they work with other ICs to deliver results. Unlike an SDE role though, a TPM will rarely work with other TPMs from their own team. Instead, when working with other TPMs, it’s usually in a cross-organizational fashion.

Given that the IC role leans solely on the deliverables of the individual, the IC path tops off at the principal level in most companies. This is equivalent to a senior manager or director, depending on the company’s verticality. The reason for this largely comes down to the ability ...