Career paths
97 ways into tech. Find yours.
Every role below has a guide covering what the job actually is, the skills that matter, and a flagship project you could start this month. Not sure where you fit? The quiz matches you in four minutes.
Software Development →
Build the apps, services and systems the world runs on.
Software Engineer
Designs, builds and maintains software systems, from user-facing features to the services behind them.
Data structures & algorithms · One language deeply (Python, Java, TS) · Git & code reviewFront-End Developer
Builds the parts of websites and apps people see and touch, with a focus on speed, accessibility and polish.
HTML, CSS & JavaScript · React or a modern framework · AccessibilityBack-End Developer
Builds the servers, APIs and databases that power applications behind the scenes.
APIs (REST/GraphQL) · SQL & data modeling · Auth & security basicsFull-Stack Developer
Works across the front end and back end to ship complete features end to end.
Front-end framework · Back-end & databases · Deployment & hostingMobile App Developer (iOS/Android)
Builds native or cross-platform apps for phones and tablets.
Swift/Kotlin or React Native · Mobile UI patterns · Offline storageGame Developer
Programs gameplay, systems and tools for video games.
Unity (C#) or Unreal (C++) · Game math & physics · OptimizationEmbedded Systems Engineer
Writes software that runs directly on hardware devices, from wearables to cars.
C/C++ · Microcontrollers · Real-time constraintsFirmware Engineer
Writes the low-level code that makes hardware boot, talk and behave.
C & assembly basics · Bootloaders & drivers · Debugging with JTAGAPI Developer
Designs and builds the interfaces other software uses to talk to a system.
API design · OpenAPI/Swagger · VersioningSoftware Development Engineer in Test (SDET)
Builds the automated testing systems that keep software reliable.
Test automation frameworks · Programming · CI pipelines
Web & Design →
Shape how products look, feel and work for real people.
Web Developer
Builds and maintains websites for businesses, organizations and products.
HTML, CSS & JavaScript · CMS platforms · Responsive designUX Designer
Researches users and designs experiences that are easy and pleasant to use.
User research · Wireframing & prototyping · FigmaUI Designer
Designs the visual layer of products: layout, type, color and components.
Visual design · Design systems · FigmaProduct Designer
Owns the end-to-end design of product features, from problem to shipped UI.
UX + UI · Product thinking · PrototypingUX Researcher
Studies how people use products to guide what gets built.
Interviews & surveys · Usability studies · SynthesisInteraction Designer
Designs how interfaces respond: motion, transitions and micro-interactions.
Motion design · Prototyping tools · Front-end basicsWeb Content Manager
Plans, publishes and maintains content on websites.
CMS management · Content strategy · SEOAccessibility Specialist
Makes sure digital products work for people with disabilities.
WCAG guidelines · Screen readers · Accessible HTML
Data & Analytics →
Turn messy data into decisions.
Data Analyst
Collects, cleans and analyzes data to answer business questions.
SQL · Excel/Sheets · Python or RBusiness Intelligence (BI) Analyst
Builds dashboards and reports that help teams track performance.
SQL · Tableau or Power BI · Data modelingData Scientist
Uses statistics and machine learning to find patterns and make predictions.
Statistics · Python (pandas, scikit-learn) · Experiment designData Engineer
Builds the pipelines and systems that move and store data reliably.
SQL · Python · ETL pipelinesAnalytics Engineer
Transforms raw data into clean, tested models analysts can trust.
SQL · dbt · Data modelingDatabase Administrator
Keeps databases fast, secure, backed up and available.
SQL · Backups & recovery · Performance tuningData Architect
Designs how an organization's data is structured, stored and governed.
Data modeling · Cloud architecture · GovernanceQuantitative Analyst
Applies math and programming to finance, pricing and risk.
Probability & statistics · Python · Financial concepts
AI & Machine Learning →
Build systems that learn, see, read and reason.
Machine Learning Engineer
Builds, trains and deploys machine learning models into real products.
Python · ML frameworks (PyTorch) · Model deploymentAI Engineer
Builds products on top of AI models: assistants, agents and AI features.
LLM APIs · Prompting & evals · Retrieval (RAG)AI Research Scientist
Advances the state of the art in AI through experiments and papers.
Linear algebra & calculus · Deep learning · Research methodsNLP Engineer
Builds systems that understand and generate human language.
Python · Transformers · Text processingComputer Vision Engineer
Builds systems that understand images and video.
Python · OpenCV · CNNs & vision modelsMLOps Engineer
Builds the infrastructure to train, deploy and monitor ML models at scale.
Docker & Kubernetes · CI/CD · Model monitoringPrompt Engineer
Designs and tests the instructions and workflows that get reliable results from AI models.
Prompt design · Evaluation · Domain knowledgeAI Product Specialist
Helps teams and customers apply AI products effectively.
AI literacy · Product thinking · CommunicationData Labeling / AI Training Specialist
Creates and reviews the labeled data that trains and evaluates AI models.
Attention to detail · Domain expertise · Labeling tools
Cybersecurity →
Defend systems, data and people from attackers.
Security Analyst
Monitors systems, investigates alerts and helps protect an organization from threats.
Networking fundamentals · SIEM tools · Log analysisSOC (Security Operations Center) Analyst
Triages and responds to security alerts as part of a security operations team.
Alert triage · SIEM & EDR · Incident documentationPenetration Tester
Legally hacks systems to find vulnerabilities before attackers do.
Linux · Web app security · NetworkingSecurity Engineer
Designs and builds security controls into systems and infrastructure.
Secure architecture · Scripting · Cloud securityIncident Responder
Leads the response when a security breach happens.
Forensics · Malware basics · Communication under pressureThreat Intelligence Analyst
Researches attackers and their tactics to anticipate threats.
OSINT · MITRE ATT&CK · Research & writingCloud Security Engineer
Secures cloud infrastructure on AWS, Azure or GCP.
Cloud IAM · Infrastructure as code · Security toolingGRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) Analyst
Makes sure organizations follow security policies, laws and frameworks.
Risk assessment · Frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001) · Policy writingChief Information Security Officer (CISO)
Leads an organization's entire security program and strategy.
Security leadership · Risk management · Budgeting
Cloud & Infrastructure →
Keep the internet running, fast and reliable.
Cloud Engineer
Builds and manages applications and infrastructure on cloud platforms.
AWS/Azure/GCP · Linux · NetworkingCloud Architect
Designs large-scale cloud systems balancing cost, reliability and security.
Cloud services · Architecture patterns · Cost optimizationDevOps Engineer
Automates how software gets built, tested and deployed.
CI/CD · Docker · ScriptingSite Reliability Engineer (SRE)
Keeps large systems reliable using software engineering.
Linux · Monitoring & alerting · Incident responsePlatform Engineer
Builds internal platforms that make other developers faster.
Kubernetes · Developer tooling · AutomationSystems Administrator
Manages servers, users and systems so an organization runs smoothly.
Linux & Windows Server · Active Directory · ScriptingNetwork Engineer
Designs and maintains the networks organizations depend on.
TCP/IP · Routing & switching · FirewallsNetwork Administrator
Keeps an organization's network running, secure and fast day to day.
Networking fundamentals · Network devices · TroubleshootingInfrastructure Engineer
Builds and maintains the core servers, storage and networks under applications.
Linux · Virtualization · Automation
IT Support & Operations →
The fastest on-ramp into tech: solve real problems for real people.
IT Support Specialist
Helps people fix technical problems with hardware, software and accounts.
Troubleshooting · Operating systems · Customer serviceHelp Desk Technician
The first line of support for users with technical issues.
Troubleshooting · Communication · TicketingDesktop Support Technician
Sets up, repairs and maintains computers and devices for users.
Hardware repair · OS imaging · PeripheralsIT Technician
Installs, maintains and repairs technology systems.
Hardware · Networking basics · Software installationTechnical Support Engineer
Solves complex technical problems for customers of a tech product.
Debugging · APIs & logs · Customer communicationIT Operations Analyst
Monitors and improves the day-to-day operation of IT systems.
Monitoring tools · Process improvement · ReportingIT Asset Manager
Tracks an organization's hardware, software and licenses.
Asset tracking · Licensing · Spreadsheets & databases
Quality & Testing →
Be the reason software works.
QA Tester
Tests software to find bugs before users do.
Test cases · Bug reporting · Attention to detailQA Engineer
Designs test strategies and tools to ensure software quality.
Test planning · Automation basics · APIsAutomation Test Engineer
Writes code that tests software automatically.
Playwright/Selenium · Programming · CI pipelinesPerformance Test Engineer
Tests how software behaves under heavy load.
Load testing tools (k6, JMeter) · Profiling · Metrics
Product & Project Management →
Decide what gets built and make sure it ships.
Product Manager
Decides what a product should do and leads the team to build it.
User research · Prioritization · Data analysisAssociate Product Manager
An entry-level product role learning to own features end to end.
Product sense · Analytics · Writing specsTechnical Program Manager
Coordinates complex technical projects across multiple teams.
Technical fluency · Planning · Risk managementProject Manager (IT)
Plans and runs technology projects on time and on budget.
Project planning · Agile & waterfall · Stakeholder managementScrum Master
Helps agile teams work well together and remove blockers.
Scrum framework · Facilitation · CoachingProduct Owner
Owns the product backlog and represents users to the team.
Backlog management · User stories · PrioritizationProduct Operations Specialist
Improves the tools, data and processes product teams use.
Process design · Analytics · Tooling
Business & Customer-Facing Tech →
Bridge technology and the people who use and buy it.
Business Analyst
Translates business needs into technical requirements and solutions.
Requirements gathering · Process mapping · SQL & ExcelSystems Analyst
Analyzes an organization's systems and designs improvements.
Systems thinking · Requirements · DatabasesSolutions Engineer / Sales Engineer
Shows customers how a technical product solves their problems.
Technical demos · Communication · Product knowledgeTechnical Account Manager
Guides key customers to success with a technical product.
Relationship management · Technical troubleshooting · CommunicationCustomer Success Manager
Makes sure customers get value from a product and stay happy.
Communication · Onboarding · Data & metricsImplementation Specialist
Sets up and configures software for new customers.
Software configuration · Data migration · TrainingTechnical Consultant
Advises organizations on technology choices and implementation.
Technical breadth · Problem solving · PresentationsSales Development Representative (SDR) at a tech company
Starts conversations with potential customers for a tech company.
Prospecting · Cold outreach · CRM tools
Content & Communication →
Explain technology so people can use it.
Technical Writer
Writes clear documentation, guides and tutorials for technical products.
Clear writing · Docs tools (Markdown, docs-as-code) · Technical understandingDeveloper Advocate / DevRel
Helps developers succeed with a product through content, talks and community.
Coding · Public speaking · Content creationDocumentation Engineer
Builds the systems and tooling that keep documentation accurate.
Docs-as-code · Static site generators · AutomationTechnical Trainer
Teaches people how to use technology through courses and workshops.
Teaching · Curriculum design · Technical knowledgeTech Community Manager
Builds and runs communities around technology products.
Community building · Event planning · Moderation
Hardware & Emerging Tech →
Chips, robots, devices and the frontier.
Hardware Engineer
Designs and tests physical computer components and devices.
Circuit design · PCB layout · Testing equipmentRobotics Engineer
Designs, builds and programs robots.
Mechanical design · Programming (C++, Python) · Sensors & controlIoT Engineer
Builds connected devices and the systems that manage them.
Microcontrollers · Networking & protocols (MQTT) · CloudElectrical Engineer (tech hardware)
Designs the electrical systems inside tech products.
Circuit analysis · Power electronics · Simulation toolsBlockchain Developer
Builds decentralized apps and smart contracts.
Solidity · Cryptography basics · Security auditingAR/VR Developer
Builds augmented and virtual reality experiences.
Unity or Unreal · 3D math · Interaction designQuantum Computing Researcher
Researches algorithms and hardware for quantum computers.
Linear algebra · Quantum mechanics basics · QiskitSemiconductor Engineer
Designs and manufactures the chips inside every device.
Digital logic · Verilog/VHDL · Physics
Leadership →
Long-term destinations: lead the teams that build the future.
Engineering Manager
Leads a team of engineers, growing people while shipping results.
Engineering background · People management · PlanningDirector of Engineering
Leads multiple engineering teams and their managers.
Organizational design · Strategy · HiringChief Technology Officer (CTO)
Leads a company's technology vision and engineering organization.
Technical depth · Strategy · LeadershipChief Information Officer (CIO)
Leads an organization's internal IT strategy and systems.
IT strategy · Budgeting · Vendor managementVP of Product
Leads product strategy and the product management team.
Product strategy · Leadership · Market insight
Not sure which one is you?
Answer a few questions and we'll match you to your top three paths, with reasons.