Transitioning to a different job profile within Meta

Congrats on getting into Meta! Given your level and 10+ YOE, I'm going to assume that you are an E5.

I knew several E5s that transitioned to MLE internally at Meta. The process is quite simple:

1. Be a high-performer in your current role and make your manager like you (these 2 almost always go hand-in-hand)
2. Ask for an internal transfer to MLE

To help with Step 1, I recommend these:

• [Course] The Complete Onboarding Guide For Software Engineers: Succeeding When You're New
• [Masterclass] How To Navigate Your Performance Review In Tech
• [Masterclass] How To Work Better With Your Engineering Manager

In terms of what skills you need, you probably don't need to worry about it as an E5. At E5 and above, most engineers are working with fundamental skills like leadership, communication, project management, mentorship/delegation, and communication. The technical portion usually isn't a huge part of the job, and if you master the fundamentals, you'll be able to pick up the technical ML stuff very quickly.

Something else you can tactically do is to network with the ML folks in your organization. I worked all the way on the mobile front-end at Instagram, but I got to know several E5/E6 engineers on the ML ranking side since I worked in ads. It was very cool learning what their day-to-day was like and how we could add value to each other.

Here's an excellent thread from another Meta engineer about this very topic (check out the linked resources there too, lots of great ones): "Is it worth transitioning to become a Machine Learning Engineer?"

I don't have a direct answer to your question, but here's what I'd do:

• Look up a few AI-heavy teams at Meta
• Find 5-10 managers on these teams. Ideally front-line managers [M1s] who are in charge of hiring.
• Message them asking for advice (not for a job) and grab coffee or a video call.
• Ask them what criteria they use when evaluating internal transfers, especially at the E5 Senior level.

You can probably get at least 3 conversations within the next month. This will give you a concrete answer to the feasibility of this transition within Meta :)