Exploring Career Advancement Beyond Principal Technical Support

·Aug 21, 2025 01:18 PM·

My career ladder currently goes to a P6 - Principal Technical Support Representative. What's above that? I can theorize a Distinguished Technical Support Representative who is sorta in a combo IC and Evangelist role. Answering cases, going to conferences, on podcasts, etc. What do you think exists above a Principal Tier? Staff? Evangelist? Distinguished?

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Exploring Career Advancement Beyond Principal Technical Support

Ethan Walfish

·Aug 21, 2025 01:18 PM·

My career ladder currently goes to a P6 - Principal Technical Support Representative. What's above that? I can theorize a Distinguished Technical Support Representative who is sorta in a combo IC and Evangelist role. Answering cases, going to conferences, on podcasts, etc. What do you think exists above a Principal Tier? Staff? Evangelist? Distinguished?

59 comments

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Ethan Walfish
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Erica ^
Sarah Betts
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I think Staff if their influence is mostly internal, Evangelist or Distinguished if they have industry or broader cultural influence
Ethan Walfish
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I like that thinking
Erica
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I like Staff for this too
birdcar
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Staff or Fellow
Sarah Betts
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Oh I like Fellow for an IC9
Erica
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Fellow is great
Ethan Walfish
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Fellow is a good one, I like that as well
birdcar
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You could also go Staff and then Fellow but I'm unclear what the step above what you're describing would be for an IC
birdcar
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but yeah, Jr -> Mid -> Sr -> Lead -> Principal -> Staff -> Fellow is typically how my mind wants to ladder things
Erica
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Fellow has a nice warm feeling to it
Erica
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V distinguished
Sarah Betts
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I see Fellow as someone who can consult with exec leadership and the board on where customer attention is going too. A way to be ahead of the competitors and disruptors
birdcar
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Exactly. An executive level IC
birdcar
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Someone who's not focused on the machinery of the support org but actually the supportability and customer sentiment of the product