The levels are a real thing, but "navigating the NDA minefield" is not, it's just something Googler's say to make themselves feel more special

I had never heard that expression until I read this article today, and I spent a very big chunk of my career at FAANGs. I think he just invented it. NDAs were never a problem for me when switching jobs either.

The article was interesting and much of it rang true, but not this detail.