Former Meta engineer asked for a demotion at the peak of his career. Here's why

For many professionals, reaching the highest levels of their careers is seen as the ultimate goal. But for Philip Su, who reached the prestigious Distinguished Engineer, or IC9, level at Meta and OpenAI, moving higher eventually came with more pressure than satisfaction.

Su spoke about his experience on The Peterman Pod podcast hosted by Ryan Peterman, as reported by Business Insider. He said that promotions felt very different as he progressed through his career, with the excitement of moving up gradually giving way to greater expectations and pressure.

PROMOTIONS BECAME LESS REWARDING

Su said that when he was younger, promotions felt much more rewarding because they were tied to measurable achievements and clear career milestones. However, by the time he reached level seven, advancement no longer felt like an unqualified win.

With each promotion came significantly higher expectations, Su explained. He was increasingly conscious that reaching a new level meant having to consistently perform at that standard, something he was not always confident he could deliver.

The higher he moved, the more complicated the idea of another promotion became.

THE PRESSURE OF WORKING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL

Eventually, Su sought a demotion at Meta, moving from IC9 to IC7. He said operating at the higher level had left him exhausted and feeling as though the “Eye of Sauron” was constantly scrutinising his performance.

He also acknowledged that companies have a legitimate reason to question whether highly paid employees are delivering enough value at senior levels.

For Su, however, the constant pressure of having to operate at the edge of his abilities was no longer sustainable.

STEPPING DOWN CAME WITH ITS OWN CHALLENGES

Choosing a lower level did not come without its own challenges. Su said it was difficult watching people who had once been below him rise past him after he stepped down. The decision could therefore feel like a setback, even though it was one he had consciously chosen.

Still, Su said he eventually recognised that a lower-level role could allow him to continue doing work he enjoyed without requiring him to perform indefinitely at the very edge of his abilities, Business Insider further reports.

Today, Su is the CEO and founder of Superphonic.

RETHINKING WHAT CAREER SUCCESS MEANS

Su's experience also raises a broader question about the way professionals think about career success. For people constantly chasing the next promotion, title, or milestone, he suggests asking a simple question: What will you do once you achieve it?

The question shifts the focus from simply reaching the next level to thinking about what life and work will look like after getting there.

For Su, reaching one of the highest levels in Big Tech did not ultimately mean continuing to climb. It meant reassessing what kind of work he wanted to do and how much pressure he was willing to take on to remain at the top.

PHILIP SU's CAREER TRAJECTORY

According to the LinkedIn profile of Su, here is his career journey so far:

• Microsoft Corporation (12 years 3 months)
  • Principal Group Manager: May 2009 to September 2010
  • Principal Software Design Engineer: May 2008 to May 2009
  • Principal Software Development Manager: 2003 to May 2008
  • Senior Software Design Engineer: July 1998 to 2003
• Facebook (5 years 4 months)
  • Director of Facebook London Engineering Office: July 2012 to December 2015
  • Software Engineer: September 2010 to July 2012
• Oculus VR
  • Software Engineer: January 2016 to July 2016
• Facebook (1 year 7 months)
  • Software Engineer: August 2017 to February 2018
  • Software Engineer: August 2016 to August 2017
• Madrona Venture Group
  • Entrepreneur In Residence: March 2018 to July 2018
• Audere
  • CEO and Founder: August 2018 to March 2021
• Amazon
  • Fulfillment Center Associate: November 2021 to December 2021
• SparkAnvil, LLC (Self-employed)
  • Founder — July 2018 to August 2023
• Northeastern University (Part-time)
  • Teaching Faculty: January 2022 to August 2023
• OpenAI
  • Seattle Site Lead & Member of Technical Staff: August 2023 to January 2025
• University of Washington: (Seasonal)
  • Teaching Faculty: April 2019 to Present
• Superphonic
  • Founder and CEO: January 2025 to Present