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Ep 04: From Software Engineer to Staff in THREE Years!?

This week, I sat down with Bhavana, a Staff Software Engineer at Meta who’s carved out a unique path across four FAANG companies...

Hello fellow techies👋

This week, I sat down with Bhavana, a Staff Software Engineer at Meta who’s carved out a unique path across four FAANG companies—including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and now Meta. Her journey started in India writing BASIC programs with her sister… and today, she’s shaping global-scale systems and advocating for better representation in tech.

Here’s what we uncovered:


🛠️ From Mid-Level to Staff in 3 Years

Yes, three years. But Bhavana is quick to point out: it wasn’t a fast-track… It was a delayed recognition. The real leap happened when she realised what many mid-level engineers miss:

  • Tech Skills Aren’t Enough: You must expand your surface area… Read more code, engage in every conversation, and get curious beyond your tasks.

  • Soft Skills Are a Career Multiplier: Leadership, persuasion, and conflict resolution aren't “extras”… They’re prerequisites for Staff roles.

  • Influence Requires Intentionality: Bhavana learned to assert her ideas, navigate ambiguity, and take control in meetings. All of things that helped her finally break through the “Senior ceiling.”

“ I think that the promotion from mid-level to senior is a lot harder for a lot of people than any other promotion that exists in the tech space.”


🌍 Networking and the Realities of Relocation: India→ US → UK

Bhavana offers a rare, first-hand comparison of work culture in India, the US, and the UK… And how immigration processes shaped her career path.

Hot take: Getting into a global tech company isn’t just about skill. It’s about being in the right network, building credibility before you need a visa, and understanding how to stand out in the hiring funnel.

Building connections, making friendships with people... connecting with people in general, I think has come quite naturally to me… If that is a skill that you struggle with, I would definitely recommend putting in time to do that because it's not just finding a new job that requires it.”

And:

“Even when you're asking for help, I think it's a lot more awkward to reach out to someone and ask for help for the first time. So it really helps to have these connections already beforehand.”


🔥 Real Talk on Representation in Tech

Bhavana brings a grounded perspective on what it means to grow as a woman in engineering leadership. While progress is happening, she notes that senior IC women in core tech roles remain rare… And that visibility matters.

  • Fewer Role Models:  Not having someone to look up to, someone to emulate, someone to learn from.

  • Subtle Challenges: Confidence gaps and cultural conditioning can shape how women show up, not just how they’re perceived.

  • Representation That Scales: It’s not just about getting in the door… It’s about who’s helping shape the future of engineering.

“ If you look at core tech, senior ICs. There is a very, very poor representation of women. ”


🎯 Takeaways for Your Tech Career

If you’re aiming for a top-tier engineering role, or just want to grow meaningfully, here’s Bhavana’s advice:

✅ Don’t sleep on soft skills: influence, facilitation, and business understanding are essential.
✅ Prep hard for behavioural interviews. They can make or break your level.
✅ Know your worth in the room. Your voice matters.
✅ Build your network early. Don’t be the person cold-DMing when it’s too late.
✅ Stay close to the action. Don’t shy away from on-call… It sharpens your systems thinking.


🎧 Listen to This Episode If You…

  • Want to break into FAANG… Or go from Senior to Staff

  • Are navigating relocation or visa pathways as an engineer

  • Need clarity on what “good code” really means at scale

  • Want insight into soft skill gaps that block promotions

  • Are passionate about diversity and inclusion in engineering

🔗 Connect with Bhavana on LinkedIn and check out her Newsletter and YouTube channel where she shares soft skill strategies for engineers.


💬 What’s your biggest career blocker right now… Tech, mindset, or network? I’d love to hear it.

Until next time,
Jade Wilson
Host, Tech Unfiltered