I realize there is a need to stratify engineers based on performance in order compensate accordingly each year during raise time, but having been in the tech ranking system for ~30 years, it turns my stomach. About 40% of the time the people promoted are really not that good, they just waited long enough or knew the right people (or were in the right division that needed to boost its clout so it promoted everyone arbitrarily). This whole "special name" business is so very misleading. You want the title of famous engineer? open source your work, let us see what you made. The masses will decide.

(And before you say "sour grapes", at my last job i rejected promotion to principal because I like my work/life balance, but eventually dropped in ranking because I refused to work 60+ hours a week in my 50's.)