Staff at Google looks different from Staff at Stripe looks different from Staff at a Series B startup. Understanding these differences prevents misaligned expectations.
At Google or Meta, Staff (L6/E6) means influence across multiple teams with + engineers in your scope. At a growth-stage startup, Staff might mean being the most senior IC with - direct reports worth of scope. At Stripe or Airbnb, Staff values deep technical expertise over breadth. Research your target companies directly. Ask recruiters directly: "What does Staff-level scope look like on this team?"