Academic and professional citations supporting the Career Topologies framework
The Career Topologies framework is grounded in 28 academic and professional references across five categories.
These references inform the framework's design principles, leveling criteria, competency models, and implementation guidance. They represent evidence-based practices from leading technology organizations, academic research, and management literature.
LinkedIn Engineering
Comprehensive career ladder with IC and management tracks, competency definitions, and progression criteria.
Dropbox Engineering
Multi-track career framework with detailed competency matrices and proficiency scales.
GitLab
Open-source career development framework with transparent leveling criteria.
progression.fyi
Curated collection of public career frameworks from leading technology companies.
Etsy Engineering
Public career framework emphasizing craft, communication, and leadership.
Buffer
Transparent career progression framework aligned with remote-first culture.
Tanya Reilly
Definitive guide to technical leadership roles and career progression beyond senior engineer.
Tanya Reilly
Analysis of undervalued work in engineering teams and its impact on career progression.
LeadDev
Practical guide to creating leveling frameworks with real-world examples.
Stripe Engineering
Insights on organizational structure and career progression at scale.
SoundCloud Engineering
Case study on implementing transparent career frameworks.
Two-dimensional model for defining career levels based on organizational impact and decision-making autonomy.
Tim Brown • IDEO
Framework for describing professional skill profiles combining depth and breadth.
Assessment approach based on demonstrated competencies rather than years of experience.
Open-source career ladder framework with customizable tracks and levels.
Laurence J. Peter, Raymond Hull
Observation that individuals tend to be promoted to their level of incompetence in hierarchical organizations.
Carol S. Dweck
Research on growth mindset and its impact on learning, development, and achievement.
Daniel H. Pink
Analysis of intrinsic motivation factors: autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
Kim Scott
Framework for effective feedback and career development through care and directness.
Research on self-assessment accuracy and its impact on career progression.
Amy Edmondson
Research on team psychological safety as a driver of learning and performance.
Camille Fournier
Career guide for technology leaders covering IC to executive progression.
Will Larson
Systems thinking approach to engineering management and organizational design.
Will Larson
Detailed exploration of staff+ engineering roles and technical leadership.
Andrew S. Grove
Classic management framework covering leverage, objectives, and performance management.
Patrick Lencioni
Framework for building cohesive teams through trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, and results.
L. David Marquet
Leadership framework emphasizing intent-based decision-making and distributed autonomy.
Liz Wiseman
Analysis of leadership behaviors that amplify team intelligence and capability.
These references serve multiple purposes in implementing Career Topologies:
When customizing Career Topologies for your organization, consult these references to understand the reasoning behind design decisions and explore alternative approaches.