The **tenure** of Software Engineers in Seattle, WA is about two years. From the [Free Dictionary][1]: > tenure (*n.*): >1.a The act, fact, manner, or condition of holding something in one's possession, as real estate or an office; occupation. 1.b A period during which something is held. >2. The status of holding one's position on a permanent basis without periodic contract renewals: *a teacher granted tenure on a faculty*. While the most common assocation for many people is that of definition 2., in university settings, it is the widely acceptable with the first definition, as in your sentence. [1]: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tenure