More broadly, there have been a bunch of cuts at the VP and director levels. I have visibility into an org where a VP and three directors where let go.
Also, for context, L9 = Sr Director = Distinguished SWE = Distinguished Scientist depending on the ladder they're on. Historically Google was quite flexible in letting people remain on a technical ladder as they move to people management. Just because someone's title is Principal X or Distinguished X doesn't mean their full-time job isn't people management. I can see evidence of that very clearly in my own org, for example.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34558576
More broadly, there have been a bunch of cuts at the VP and director levels. I have visibility into an org where a VP and three directors where let go.
Also, for context, L9 = Sr Director = Distinguished SWE = Distinguished Scientist depending on the ladder they're on. Historically Google was quite flexible in letting people remain on a technical ladder as they move to people management. Just because someone's title is Principal X or Distinguished X doesn't mean their full-time job isn't people management. I can see evidence of that very clearly in my own org, for example.