P6P6 — Principal Professional
Principal/Authority
Sets technical direction for multiple programs or disciplines. Drives breakthrough innovations.
What this level means
Top individual contributor; recognized authority with strategic impact, equivalent to a low executive level
- Scope
- Organization-wide architecture and the hardest problems
- Autonomy
- Defines direction; minimal oversight
- Complexity
- Strategic, open-ended problems shaping the technical future
- Impact
- Organization-wide
- Decision rights
- Sets technical strategy for a major area
- Leadership
- Recognized authority; multiplies many teams
- Typical experience
- 12–18 yrs
What you'd do
- Set technical direction for programs
- Drive breakthrough innovations
- Lead multiple disciplines
- Influence industry standards
- Foster a culture of excellence
- Engage with global leaders
- Mentor top engineering talent
- Represent the organization at international forums
- Develop long-term strategic plans
- Ensure organizational competitiveness
- Set technical direction
- Drive innovations
- Mentor top talent
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Technical direction setting
- Breakthrough innovation
- Discipline leadership
- Industry influence
- Excellence culture
- Global engagement
- Mentorship
- Strategic planning
- Technical direction strategies
- Innovation processes
- Discipline leadership
- Industry standards
- Excellence culture
- Global engagement
- Mentorship techniques
- Strategic planning
- Transformational leadership
- Influence
- Professionalism
- Innovation
- Global engagement
- Mentorship
- Strategic planning
- Competitiveness
What good looks like
- 15–20+ years; national/international reputation
- Proven leadership in innovation
- Global industry influence
Common titles
Aerospace Engineering – General VIAerospace Engineering – General 6Principal Aerospace Engineering – GeneralPrincipal/Authority
What it pays
Market-pay benchmarks for this family × level are being recalibrated across all survey sources and will return shortly.
O*NET / SOC: 17-2011.00 — Aerospace Engineers