SDE-1 vs SDE-2 vs SDE-3: Roles, Salary & Career Growth Guide

Introduction:

In the world of software engineering, roles like SDE1, SDE2, and SDE3 are used by top tech companies to define how much responsibility, skill, and impact an engineer has. Think of them as career levels similar to junior, mid, and senior positions but with clear expectations around coding, design, leadership, and problem-solving.

Here are a few quick facts that show why these levels matter:

• Most tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Flipkart, etc. use these levels to decide job roles
• They decide your salary, work responsibilities, and career path
• They show which skills you need to learn to grow in your career
• They help recruiters understand your experience easily

So, understanding SDE levels helps you choose the right path and grow faster in your software career.

What is an SDE (Software Development Engineer)?

A Software Development Engineer (SDE) is someone who creates software from writing code to building systems and solving real user problems.

In simple words, an SDE:

• Writes and tests software code
• Finds and fixes errors in software
• Works with teammates to build new features
• Talks with other engineers and managers to complete projects

From SDE1 to SDE3, the main difference is how much responsibility, difficulty of work, and leadership is expected which we will explain in the next sections.

Understanding SDE Levels in Top Product-Based Companies

Different tech companies use different names for SDE levels, but the core expectations remain similar. For example, Amazon uses L4, L5, and L6, Google uses L3, L4, and L5, while Microsoft, Meta, and Apple follow their own level systems.

Even though the naming looks different, the structure is almost the same across companies:

• SDE-1 represents entry-level engineers
• SDE-2 represents mid-level engineers with ownership
• SDE-3 represents senior engineers with system design and leadership responsibilities

The image below shows a simple comparison of how top product-based companies map these levels.

SDE-1 (Software Development Engineer-1)

SDE-1 is the entry-level role in a software engineering career. At this stage, companies expect you to learn quickly, write clean code, and understand how real-world software development works.

You are mainly responsible for implementing features under guidance and improving your technical foundation.

What is SDE-1?

An SDE-1 is a Software Development Engineer at the beginner level. This is usually the first full-time job in a software engineer’s career.

Most SDE-1 engineers are freshers who have recently completed their studies and are starting their journey in the IT industry.

At this stage, the main focus is:

• Learning how real companies work
• Improving coding skills
• Understanding real projects
• Gaining industry experience

Experience Level

Most SDE-1 engineers have 0 to 2 years of experience.

They are usually:

• Fresh graduates from B.Tech, BCA, or B.Sc Computer Science
• Students from coding bootcamps
• Self-learners with strong skills and projects

Many students get SDE-1 roles through:

• Campus placements
• Off-campus drives
• Internships converted to full-time jobs

This level is the starting point of a professional software career.

Responsibilities of an SDE-1

After understanding who an SDE-1 is, let's look at what an SDE-1 actually does in daily work.

At the entry level, your main responsibility is to support the team and learn while working.

Writing Code

An SDE-1 writes clean and simple code for small modules or features.

Most of the time, seniors review this code to make sure it meets company standards.

Implementing Features

You help in building parts of larger features, such as:

• Login systems
• Profile pages
• Payment modules
• APIs
• Dashboards

You usually work on clearly defined tasks given by senior engineers.

Fixing Bugs and Improving Code

SDE-1 engineers also:

• Fix small errors in existing code
• Improve slow or broken features
• Learn how to debug real systems

Learning from Seniors and Mentors

One of the most important responsibilities is learning.

You regularly:

• Ask doubts
• Attend code reviews
• Follow best practices
• Observe how seniors solve problems

This learning phase helps you prepare for higher roles like SDE-2.

SDE-1 Skills Required

To be successful as an SDE-1, certain skills are very important. These are basic building blocks of software engineering:

Good Understanding of Basics

You should know core computer science ideas like:

• Data Structures (DSA): Arrays, Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Hash Maps
• Algorithms:  Searching, Sorting, Recursion, Simple problem-solving

These help you write efficient programs.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOPS)

Basic concepts like:

• Classes and objects
• Inheritance
• Polymorphism
• Encapsulation

These are used in almost all modern programming languages like Java, Python, or C++.

One or More Programming Languages

You should be comfortable coding in at least one popular language such as:

• Java
• Python
• C++
• JavaScript

This helps you solve problems and write real software.

Basic Fundamentals

These include:

• How programs run
• How memory works
• Control flow (if-else, loops)
• Debugging and fixing errors

Every company expects these skills before you join as SDE-1.

What SDE-1 Usually Does in a Team

At this level, a typical SDE-1 engineer may:

• Write code for simple features
• Fix small bugs in the code
• Write unit tests (test small parts of your code)
• Review code with teammates
• Learn from seniors and ask questions

You are part of a development team, and you grow by doing real work and gaining feedback.

How to Become an SDE-1 in India

Now that you know what an SDE-1 does, let’s see how you can become one in India.

Most companies in India prefer candidates with:

• B.Tech / BE (CS, IT, AI, Data, etc.)
• BCA / B.Sc Computer Science
• MCA (in some cases)

However, many companies now also hire skilled candidates from:

• Coding bootcamps
• Online programs
• Self-learning backgrounds
• Industry-aligned curriculum like Bosscoder School of Technology (BST) provides that focus on practical skills and real projects.

Note: Skills matter more than degree in many startups and product based companies.

6-Month Preparation Plan for SDE-1 (Simple Roadmap)

If you are serious about becoming an SDE-1, you can prepare in 6 months with the right guidance and regular practice.

Here is a simple roadmap you can follow:

Month 1-2: Build Strong Foundations

In the first two months, focus on learning the foundation.

• Learn one programming language (Java / Python / C++)
• Understand basic DSA (arrays, strings, recursion, sorting)
• Practice easy problems daily on coding platforms

This stage is very important because strong basics make learning advanced topics easier later.

Month 3-4: Intermediate Level Skills

Now, start improving your problem-solving and coding depth.

• Solve medium-level DSA questions
• Learn OOPs concepts (classes, objects, inheritance, etc.)
• Build small projects like a to-do app, quiz app, or mini website

At this stage, many students start feeling more confident in coding.

Month 5: Projects + Revision

This month is for strengthening your profile.

• Create 2–3 good projects for your resume
• Revise DSA and core subjects
• Improve your coding speed and accuracy

Strong projects help recruiters understand your practical skills.

Month 6: Interview Preparation

In the final month, focus fully on placements and interviews.

• Attend mock interviews
• Prepare a clean and professional resume
• Practice company-wise questions
• Prepare multiple mock interview questions

This helps you stay confident during real interviews.

How Bosscoder Can Help in This Journey

Following this plan alone is possible, but many students struggle with direction and consistency.

Programs like Bosscoder Academy’s 6-month industry-focused program are designed around this same roadmap. They provide:

• Structured learning from basics to advanced
• Regular DSA practice and 1:1 mentorship
• Real projects and interview preparation
• Guidance from experienced engineers

For students who want proper guidance and a clear path, such programs can save time and help avoid common mistakes.

With regular practice and the right support, many students are able to crack SDE-1 roles within 6 months.

SDE-2 (Software Development Engineer-2)

After working as an SDE-1 for some time, engineers move to the SDE-2 level. At this stage, companies expect you to work more independently and take more responsibility.

What is SDE-2?

An SDE-2 is a mid-level software engineer who can handle tasks without constant supervision.

• Usually has 2 to 4 years of experience
• Has already worked on real production systems
• Can solve problems on their own
• Understands how large applications work

SDE-2 engineers are trusted to deliver quality work regularly. Many SDE-2 engineers reach this level after:

• 1.5 to 2 years as SDE-1
• Consistent performance
• Strong technical growth

Promotion depends more on skills and impact, not just years.

Skills Required for SDE-2

At the SDE-2 level, companies want you to be technically strong and more independent. You should be able to solve problems without depending on seniors all the time.

Strong Problem-Solving (DSA)

• Able to solve medium to hard DSA problems
• Good understanding of arrays, strings, trees, graphs, DP, etc.
• Can write optimized code
• Knows how to choose the right approach

At this stage, you should not just solve problems, you should solve them efficiently.

Good Programming Skills

• Writes clean and readable code
• Follows proper coding standards
• Uses meaningful variable and function names
• Avoids unnecessary complexity

Companies prefer engineers whose code is easy to understand and maintain.

Debugging & Troubleshooting Skills

• Finds bugs in complex systems
• Uses logs and debugging tools
• Fixes performance issues
• Handles production errors

An SDE-2 should be able to solve issues even when no one else is available.

System Design Knowledge

• Knows how applications are structured
• Understands databases, APIs, servers
• Can design small systems
• Thinks about scalability and load

You don’t need to be an expert yet, but you should understand the foundation of how system works.

Knowledge of Tools & Technologies

• Git and version control
• CI/CD basics
• Cloud basics (AWS/GCP/Azure)
• Monitoring tools

These tools help in top tech & product based company work.

Communication & Team Skills

• Explains ideas clearly
• Asks questions when stuck
• Gives feedback politely
• Works well in a team

Good communication makes you more valuable than just technical skills.

Note: With regular practice and the right guidance (like structured programs from Bosscoder Academy), many engineers in India can prepare for SDE-2 within 6-12 months after becoming SDE-1.

Responsibilities of SDE-2

At the SDE-2 level, you are expected to work independently, responsibly, and confidently. Companies trust you with important tasks and expect quality work.

Building and Owning Features

An SDE-2 is responsible for building complete features from start to finish.

• Designs small modules
• Writes backend/frontend code
• Connects APIs and databases
• Tests before deployment

You don’t just write code, you make sure the feature works properly in real use.

Taking Responsibility for Work

At this stage, you are expected to take full ownership of your tasks.

• Completes work on time
• Fixes bugs after release
• Improves code quality
• Handles issues without waiting for seniors

Companies expect SDE-2 engineers to be reliable and self-driven.

Supporting and Guiding Junior Developers

SDE-2 engineers help freshers and junior teammates grow.

• Helps SDE-1 understand tasks
• Reviews their code
• Shares learning resources
• Guides in problem-solving

This shows leadership and prepares you for senior roles.

Maintaining System Quality and Stability

SDE-2 engineers help keep company systems stable and fast.

• Fixes production bugs
• Improves performance
• Refactors old code
• Prevents future issues

Your work directly affects users and business results.

Moving from SDE-1 to SDE-2

To reach SDE-2, you must improve your technical skills and start working more independently. Focus on these three main areas.

Improve Your Coding & Technical Skills

• Practice medium and hard DSA questions
• Revise core topics (Arrays, Trees, Graphs, DP)
• Learn System Design basics
• Understand design patterns
• Write clean and optimized code

Try to solve 2–3 coding problems daily.

Build Strong Projects & Work Independently

Your work should show maturity and ownership.

• Build real-world projects
• Use GitHub properly
• Deploy your applications
• Debug problems on your own
• Learn from documentation and online resources

This proves that you can handle tasks without constant help.

Prepare for Interviews & Improve Communication

Good technical skills + good communication = faster growth.

• Practice mock interviews
• Revise important DSA topics
• Prepare company-wise questions
• Learn to explain your solutions clearly
• Improve teamwork and communication

Companies prefer engineers who can code well and work well with others.

SDE-3 (Software Development Engineer-3)?

After proving strong ownership and technical depth as an SDE-2, engineers move to the SDE-3 level. At this stage, companies want you to lead technical decisions, design scalable systems, and guide other engineers.

You are not just responsible for completing features you are responsible for building reliable systems and influencing technical direction.

What is SDE-3?

An SDE-3 is a Senior Software Engineer who leads technical decisions and builds scalable systems.

At this level, you are not just coding, you are designing architecture and guiding the team.

• Usually has 5 to 8+ years of experience
• Has strong experience with scalable production systems
• Leads technical design discussions
• Makes important architecture decisions
• Mentors multiple engineers

SDE-3 engineers are trusted to handle critical systems that directly impact business growth.

Many software engineers reach this level after:

• 2–3 years as SDE-2
• Strong ownership and consistent impact
• Deep system design knowledge
• Leadership qualities

Promotion depends on technical depth, system impact, and leadership not just years of experience.

Skills Required for SDE-3

At the Senior Software Engineer level, companies expect deep technical knowledge and strong leadership skills.

You should be able to design large systems and guide others.

Advanced Problem-Solving & Technical Depth

• Solves complex engineering problems
• Strong in DSA and real-world problem solving
• Understands trade-offs and optimization
• Makes performance improvements

At this stage, you focus more on system-level thinking than just coding questions.

Advanced System Design & Architecture

• Designs large-scale systems
• Understands distributed systems
• Works with microservices architecture
• Handles scalability, caching, load balancing
• Makes high-level design (HLD) decisions

You should be able to design systems that handle millions of users.

Strong Coding & Code Quality Leadership

• Writes production-level clean code
• Sets coding standards for the team
• Reviews complex pull requests
• Improves system reliability

Your code becomes a reference for others.

Production & Performance Ownership

• Handles critical production issues
• Improves system performance
• Reduces downtime
• Ensures system stability

SDE-3 engineers protect the company’s core systems.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Guides SDE-1 and SDE-2 engineers
• Leads design discussions
• Helps in hiring interviews
• Shares knowledge with the team

You are seen as a technical leader, even without being a manager.

Responsibilities of SDE-3

At this level, companies trust you with high-impact projects and long-term technical vision.

Designing and Leading Large Features

• Breaks complex projects into modules
• Creates system architecture
• Reviews technical decisions
• Ensures scalability from day one

You think about long-term impact, not just delivery.

Driving Technical Strategy

• Chooses tech stack
• Improves engineering practices
• Introduces better design patterns
• Optimizes infrastructure

Your decisions affect the whole team.

Mentoring & Team Growth

• Supports junior and mid-level engineers
• Conducts technical reviews
• Encourages best practices
• Builds a strong engineering culture

Strong teams are built by strong senior engineers.

Moving from SDE-2 to SDE-3

Moving from SDE-2 to SDE-3 is a big step in a software engineering career. At the SDE-2 level, you are known for working independently and delivering features. But at the SDE-3 level, you are expected to lead technically, design scalable systems, and influence important engineering decisions.

The focus shifts from “completing tasks” to “building systems and guiding teams.” Your impact becomes broader, and your decisions start affecting multiple engineers and business outcomes.

To successfully move from SDE-2 to SDE-3, you should mainly focus on:

• Advanced System Design → Design scalable, reliable, and high-performance systems.
• Architecture Thinking → Make long-term technical decisions, not short-term fixes.
• Ownership of Complex Projects → Handle large, high-impact features end-to-end.
• Technical Leadership → Mentor junior engineers and lead design discussions.
• Business Understanding → Think about how technical decisions affect users and growth.

At this stage, companies promote engineers based on technical depth, leadership, and real impact, not just experience.

In simple words, SDE-2 proves you can work independently.
SDE-3 proves you can lead technically and build systems that scale.

To make this transition faster and more structured, having the right guidance matters. Programs like Bosscoder Academy’s Evolve Program focus on advanced system design, real-world architecture thinking, and leadership-level problem solving skills that are essential for moving from SDE-2 to SDE-3.

SDE-1 vs SDE-2 vs SDE-3: Main Differences Explained

As engineers gain experience, their responsibilities, technical depth, and leadership expectations increase. SDE-1 usually grows into SDE-2, and SDE-2 grows into SDE-3 based on skills, impact, and performance not just years.

Below is a simple comparison to clearly understand the difference:

Area	SDE-1	SDE-2	SDE-3
Experience	0-2 years	2-4 years	5+ years
Main Focus	Learning & coding	Mid-level Engineer	Senior Software Engineer
Problem Solving	Solves simple tasks	Solves complex features	Solves large system problems
System Design Skills	Basic understanding	Can design small systems	Designs scalable systems
Work Responsibility	Works under guidance	Works independently	Leads projects
Ownership	Task-level ownership	Feature-level ownership	System-level ownership
Leadership	Learns from seniors	Mentors juniors	Guides team & makes technical decisions
Career Growth Level	Entry-level	Mid-level	Senior-level

Simple Summary

• SDE-1 → Focus on coding, learning, and building strong fundamentals.
• SDE-2 → Focus on ownership, debugging, and designing small systems.
• SDE-3 → Focus on scalable system design, technical leadership, and high impact.

As you move from SDE-1 to SDE-3, your salary, responsibility, and impact in the company increase.

Understanding these software engineer levels helps you plan your career growth in software engineering and prepare for promotions in top tech companies.

SDE Levels Salary Comparison

In this section, we’ll see how salaries differ for SDE-1, SDE-2, and SDE-3 roles in India, especially in product-based companies.

Salaries can vary widely depending on the company, location (e.g., Bengaluru, Hyderabad), negotiation skills, stock/equity, and performance. The ranges below are approximate averages based on real compensation data from salary platforms in 2025–2026

Average Software Engineer Salary in India (SDE-1 to SDE-3)

SDE Level	Salary Range (₹ LPA)	Experience Level
SDE-1 (Junior Software Engineer)	₹8 - ₹20 LPA	0–2 years (Entry-level, strong coding & DSA focus)
SDE-2 (Mid-Level Engineer)	₹15 - ₹40 LPA	2–4 years (Feature ownership & system design basics)
SDE-3 (Senior Software Engineer)	₹30 – ₹60+ LPA	5+ years (System design, architecture & leadership)

Average Salaries at Top Product Companies in India

In India, software engineer salaries vary widely based on company, experience, skill level, and offer components like base salary, bonus, and stock options.

Here’s a simple view of how salaries are distributed across SDE-1, SDE-2, and SDE-3 roles in top product

Company	SDE-1	SDE-2	SDE-3
Amazon	~₹15–22 LPA	~₹40–55 LPA	~₹80 LPA–₹1.3 Cr
Google	~₹25–35 LPA	~₹45–60 LPA	~₹60–90+ LPA
Microsoft	~₹18–28 LPA	~₹35–50 LPA	~₹45–80 LPA
Meta (Facebook)	~₹25–35 LPA	~₹45–65 LPA	~₹60–90 LPA
Uber	~₹30–38 LPA	~₹45–60 LPA	~₹70–95 LPA
Flipkart	~₹18–30 LPA	~₹25–40 LPA	~₹40–60 LPA
Atlassian	~₹30–42 LPA	~₹35–48 LPA	~₹45–60 LPA

These numbers are approximate averages based on reported compensation data and trends in Ambition Box/professional salary reports. Actual offers may vary based on bonuses, stock units (RSUs), and interview negotiations.

How to Become a Software Development Engineer (SDE) at MAANG Companies

After understanding SDE-1, SDE-2, and SDE-3 levels, many engineers aim to work at MAANG companies (Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google). These top product-based companies offer high salaries, strong career growth, and global exposure.

To become a Software Development Engineer (SDE) at MAANG, you need strong fundamentals and consistent practice.

Here’s what you should focus on:

• Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) → Practice coding regularly. Most MAANG interviews focus on problem-solving skills.
• Core Computer Science Subjects → Be clear with OS, DBMS, OOPS, and Computer Networks.
• System Design → Important for SDE-2 and SDE-3 roles. Learn how large systems are built and scaled.
• Projects → Build real-world applications and showcase them on GitHub.
• Communication Skills → Interviews also test clarity of thinking and teamwork ability.

Getting into MAANG requires preparation, patience, and proper guidance. With the right roadmap, it is achievable.

Final Thoughts

SDE-1, SDE-2, and SDE-3 are different stages of growth in a software engineering career. As you move from entry-level to senior roles, your responsibilities increase from writing code and learning basics to owning features, designing systems, and leading technical decisions.

With more experience comes more impact and better salary opportunities, especially in top product-based and MAANG companies. But reaching these levels requires strong coding skills, good system design knowledge, clear understanding of core CS subjects, and good communication.

If you want to grow in your software engineering journey, focus on strong fundamentals and regular practice. With the right guidance from platforms like Bosscoder Academy, you can prepare in a structured way and move closer to your goal of working at top tech companies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)