I have been acting as Tech Lead for our
Question
I have been acting as Tech Lead for our 6-person engineering team for the past 6 months since our former lead departed. During this time, I successfully led architecture and delivered two major client releases on time, while still holding the Senior title and $115k base salary.
Our 1-on-1 with my manager is this Thursday.
I want to formally ask for the Tech Lead title and an adjustment to $135k base pay, with a written decision by next Friday.
Please give me:
- The exact opening line to speak directly in the meeting.
- The comeback line if my manager stalls ("Let's revisit during annual review cycle in 5 months").
- A quick table of opening vs stalled responses.
Answer
Here is your opening line, the comeback, and the side-by-side.
Opening (for Thursday):
"I've been acting as Tech Lead for six months. I led the architecture and delivered two major releases on time. I'm asking for the Tech Lead title and a base salary adjustment to $135,000. I'd like a written yes or no by next Friday."
If they push to the annual review cycle in five months:
"I can wait for the review cycle. Please put the cycle date and the materials we'll discuss on a calendar invite, and confirm in writing that this request stays on that agenda rather than going back to the bottom of the queue."
| Moment | What to say | What to ask for in writing |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | I've been acting as Tech Lead for 6 months; led architecture and delivered 2 major releases on time. I'm asking for the Tech Lead title and base to $135,000. | Written yes/no by next Friday. |
| Stalled to annual review (5 months) | I can wait for that cycle. | Calendar invite with the date + materials; written confirmation this request stays on that agenda, not re-queued. |
| "Budget is frozen" | Noted the freeze. | Specific date it unfreezes / is reviewed; written confirmation the request reopens that day. |
| eassurance only | Thanks — I still need a yes or no, and an effective date. | Same: yes/no + effective date, in writing. |
Two things worth tightening before Thursday:
- The written-yes/no date. "Next Friday" works only if that gives at least a few business days. If next Friday is too tight for written sign-off, name the actual date.
- The $135k. It's your number from your own brief, so it goes straight into the opening line — no need for an external band. If you want a public-distribution check before Thursday (US BLS or your metro area's tech-lead band) so you know whether $135k sits in a defensible range, say the word and I'll pull the page this turn.