System Architecture

At Level 2, your focus shifts to reinforcing and extending the architecture that already exists. You make implementation decisions with the system's structure in mind and help ensure new code aligns with architectural intent. You work within the current architecture to make it more robust, resilient, and consistent. You may raise small architectural concerns or suggest refinements, but you aren't yet expected to design new components from scratch.

Key Behaviors

  • Deepens understanding of the system's patterns and constraints
  • Implements features in ways that improve system reliability and clarity
  • Identifies inconsistencies, edge cases, or architectural drift in existing systems
  • Strengthens boundaries between components by clarifying ownership and interfaces
  • Follows and enforces architectural conventions in code reviews

Common Struggles

  • May patch around weak design instead of escalating concerns
  • Might lack confidence to raise architectural issues with senior engineers
  • Can struggle to balance delivery speed with system clarity

Success Indicators

You know you're successful when you:

  • Understand not just how the system works, but why it's structured that way
  • Make the architecture stronger and more coherent through your day-to-day work
  • Spot inconsistencies and raise architectural questions early
  • Encourage others to build with structural integrity in mind

Mindset Shift

From:

"I keep the system healthy."

To:

"I shape the system so it stays healthy as it grows."

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • Are we relying on brittle assumptions or implicit contracts?
  • Where is complexity growing faster than our structure can support?
  • What can I simplify or modularize without changing system behavior?

Build These Habits

  • 1
    Review small refactors and their long-term architectural impact
  • 2
    Document recurring pain points or design flaws you notice
  • 3
    Help newer engineers understand how to work within the architecture

Seek Feedback

  • "Is there a more resilient or simpler way to implement this?"
  • "Does this follow our architectural principles, or is it bending them?"
  • "What areas of the system feel fragile, and how might we strengthen them?"

Signals You're Ready to Level Up

  • You improve architectural integrity through thoughtful implementation
  • You help others understand and follow system design principles
  • You raise and discuss issues that affect system-level clarity or stability

Focus Summary

  • Support the structure
  • Spot the cracks
  • Build with care

At Level 2, you're not changing the architecture—you're fortifying it. You make it easier for others to build well, and you keep the system honest as it grows.