Meta engineer reached a $4.3 million-a-year level, then asked for a demotion: ‘The thrill’ faded
Philip Su reached Meta and OpenAI’s prestigious IC9 level before asking Meta to move him back to IC7. He said promotions eventually brought heavier expectations and exhaustion.
Philip Su, a Meta engineer who reached the prestigious "distinguished engineer" or IC9 level, expressed his desire for a demotion in a recent podcast interview. Su, who now heads Superphonic, an AI-powered podcast player, said that the thrill of promotions faded as his career progressed. He described working at the higher level as exhausting, feeling constantly scrutinized.
Su's compensation for an IC9 engineer at Meta can be around $4.3 million annually, while an IC7 engineer earns about $1.63 million. Su's decision to step down from his higher position came after he realized the higher expectations that came with each promotion. He suggests that reaching the highest level of a career doesn't have to be everyone's objective.
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