Guides

Developer growth guides

Guides to SFIA career levels and developer seniority: what each level looks like across frontend, backend, cloud, security, data, and more, with the evidence that proves it.

SFIA framework

SFIA levels explained

The seven SFIA levels of responsibility, from Follow to Set Strategy, and what each means for a developer's career.

Fennec team · 12 Jan 2026 · 4 min read

Read guide

By discipline

Frontend

Frontend Engineering: levels explained

Building user interfaces, component libraries, and browser-based experiences.

Fennec team · 26 Jan 2026 · 5 min read

Backend

Backend & API Engineering: levels explained

Building APIs, services, and the server-side systems that power applications.

Fennec team · 9 Feb 2026 · 4 min read

Cloud

Cloud & Infrastructure: levels explained

Cloud platforms, infrastructure-as-code, and the operational layer underpinning modern software.

Fennec team · 23 Feb 2026 · 4 min read

DevOps

DevOps & Platform Engineering: levels explained

CI/CD, developer experience, internal platforms, and shipping software reliably at speed.

Fennec team · 9 Mar 2026 · 4 min read

Database

Databases & Data Systems: levels explained

Relational, NoSQL, streaming, and the trade-offs in storing, querying, and moving data.

Fennec team · 23 Mar 2026 · 4 min read

Security

Security & Privacy: levels explained

Application security, threat modelling, and keeping systems and data safe.

Fennec team · 6 Apr 2026 · 4 min read

Testing

Testing & Quality Engineering: levels explained

Building confidence in software through automated testing, exploratory testing, and quality culture.

Fennec team · 20 Apr 2026 · 4 min read

Architecture

Architecture & System Design: levels explained

Patterns for distributed systems, domain-driven design, and how to structure large-scale software.

Fennec team · 4 May 2026 · 4 min read

Leadership

Tech Leadership & People: levels explained

Leading teams, mentoring engineers, stakeholder management, and the human side of software.

Fennec team · 18 May 2026 · 4 min read

Emerging tech

Data & AI: levels explained

Machine learning, AI systems, data science, and the fast-moving landscape of intelligent software.

Fennec team · 1 Jun 2026 · 4 min read

Mobile

Mobile Development: levels explained

iOS, Android, and cross-platform mobile applications and the unique constraints of device development.

Fennec team · 15 Jun 2026 · 3 min read