The Senior Engineer Illusion: What I Thought vs. What I Learned
As a junior engineer, I had some wild ideas about senior engineers.
I thought they were like coding superheroes - able to debug any issue, always knowing the next step, and walking tech encyclopedias. I used to think that leveling up your career to senior would grant you unlimited knowledge and a cozy work life.
I remember watching my mentor on my first job, troubleshoot a Java issue I was struggling with. The way he flew through code and terminal commands was like watching the "Let me solo her" guy beat Malenia in Elden Ring, while I pussy-ed out and watched him fight.
It left a big impression on me. I wanted to be that fast and efficient.
Now 9+ years after that, reality has become clearer: leveling up in your career isn't just about mastering the command line. It's about taking on a whole new set of complex challenges.
Sure, you'll get faster at fixing basic bugs, but that's not what you'll be dealing with most of the time. Think of it this way - as your skills grow, so does the complexity of the problems you're expected to solve.
Just to be clear, this isn't meant to burst your bubble. It's more like a heads-up about what's waiting for you. Senior engineers aren't some mythical creatures who can churn out perfect code in their sleep.
Here are some incorrect things I thought about senior engineers when I started my journey.
1) Seniors only work on cutting-edge tech and do all the cool projects
Many junior engineers fantasize about playing with the latest shiny tools all day. The reality is, as a senior, you'll often be knee-deep in legacy code.
We're talking about systems that have been around longer than some of your colleagues, packed with years of business logic, user data, and quirks that keep the lights on.
Your job? Become a code archaeologist.
You'll be digging through these digital artifacts, figuring out why they're throwing tantrums, and finding ways to make them play nice with modern demands. And don't forget the golden rule: don't break anything.
Sounds thrilling, right?
It's not always a joyride, but it's the nitty-gritty of senior life. Most software out there isn't a greenfield project - it's a patchwork of legacy systems begging for a refactor (which will probably stay on the backlog until the death of the universe).
So, you'll be doing a lot of work supporting the code you've got.
2) Seniors rewrite entire codebases on a whim
As a junior engineer, I often looked at existing systems and thought, "I could do this so much better!"
I was immediately firing off suggestions like a loose cannon. When you're new, every problem looks like it needs your shiny new hammer.
This eagerness isn't bad - it's how our industry evolves. Plus, it's a great way to make tons of mistakes that will teach you not everything needs a hammer. And maybe you need more tools in your kit.
But here's the senior engineer's secret: big changes need more than just good code.
You've got to learn to "speak stakeholder" - communicate your ideas in ways that resonate with the business folks. Get familiar with budgets and resource planning. The larger the project, the more hoops you'll jump through, but it's worth it.
As you level up, you realize that meaningful change isn't just about writing clean code. It's about crafting proposals that tick all the boxes:
- technical excellence
- business goals
- budget constraints
Bottom line: Building cool stuff is fun, but building cool stuff that benefits the company? That's the sweet spot.
3) Seniors write code all day
Imagine thinking senior engineers spend their entire day in VS Code, churning out lines like their body is a vessel for a company to find a market fit.
If only.
The reality? Coding is just one slice of the tech pizza. Sure, they still code, but it's sandwiched between other responsibilities.
Think about estimations, architecture design sessions, code reviews, interviews, and meetings. Then there are debugging and mentoring sessions to prevent "it works on my machine" disasters, translating tech jargon into human for stakeholders. Don't forget the firefighting when production decides to throw a tantrum.
Seniors are more like tech conductors, orchestrating a symphony of Git pushes, Slack pings, and Jira ticket juggling.
So next time you see a senior staring intensely at their screen, they might be coding. Or they might be wondering how to explain to management that we can't just "add AI" to fix everything.
4) Seniors never make mistakes
If you think seniors never introduce bugs, you are wrong.
Senior engineers aren't mystical beings with infallible code powers. They're human, and humans make mistakes - sometimes spectacularly.
The difference?
They've seen it all, from off-by-one errors that bring down entire systems to accidentally executing SQL queries on a production environment instead of staging.
They're not immune to brain farts, typos, or the occasional "it worked on my machine" syndrome. But here's the kicker: seniors are faster at catching and fixing their screw-ups.
They've got a sixth sense for sniffing out potential issues and a toolbox of debugging tricks. So yeah, seniors make mistakes. They get better at turning those "oh crap" moments into "lesson learned" experiences.
Remember, it's not about never messing up. It's about how quickly you can undo the issue and fix it.
5) Seniors call all the technical shots
I thought seniors were the all-powerful wizards of tech decisions.
The idea that they snap their fingers and suddenly the whole team switches from React to Vue is totally wrong.
In reality, tech decisions are more like a chaotic multiplayer game of League of Legends. Seniors might be the grandmasters, but they're still playing with product managers, other engineers, business stakeholders, and that one guy who insists AI solves everything.
They navigate a maze of budget constraints, legacy system limitations, and "but we've always done it this way" arguments.
Sure, senior engineers opinion carries weight but it's not absolute. Sometimes, they're outvoted by other team members.
The truth is that seniors are more like tech diplomats, negotiating between ideal solutions and practical realities while trying to prevent their team from reinventing the wheel.
6) Seniors are walking encyclopedias
Thinking seniors have all the answers?
That's not just wrong, it's downright dangerous for your growth.
Tech moves at warp speed - new algorithms, frameworks, and buzzwords pop up faster than JavaScript frameworks.
Claiming to know it all is like saying you've finished the internet.
Your senior powers aren't about having a brain full of facts. They're about:
- Thriving in the "I have no clue what I'm doing" zone
- Asking the right questions to level up your understanding
- Knowing how to Google or ask ChatGPT
It's cool to say "I don't know" or "Let's dig deeper into this."
Tech is like the universe - constantly expanding and mostly a mystery. Your job is to solve problems, not be a walking Stack Overflow.
Think of yourself as a seasoned adventurer in the tech jungle.
You might not know every plant and animal, but you've got the skills to navigate, survive, and maybe even discover something new along the way.
7) Seniors don't need to ask for help
Think seniors are lone wolves who never need backup? Think again.
Even the most seasoned engineers aren't immune to the occasional "WTF is this code doing?" moment. Knowing when to ask for help is a senior superpower. It's not about having all the answers. It's about knowing how to find them.
Whether it's tapping into the collective brain of your team, searching through Slack messages, asking ChatGPT, diving into obscure GitHub issues, or summoning the ancient wisdom of that one engineer who's been with the company since forever, seniors excel at problem-solving by leveraging all available resources.
They're not afraid to admit when they're stuck because they know collaboration often leads to better solutions.
After all, in the tech world, "I don't know, let's figure it out together" is often the smartest thing you can say.
8) Becoming a senior is just about years of experience.
Think seniority is just about racking up years like git commits?
Think again.
Sure, time in the trenches matters, but it's not just about how long you've been coding - it's about what you've learned along the way.
Becoming a senior engineer is more like leveling up in an RPG game. You need a mix of right skills, not just grinding XP.
We're talking about:
- Sharp problem-solving skills
- The ability to explain complex tech to non-techies without causing brain meltdowns
- Architectural wisdom
- Time management skills
- Mentoring skills that turn junior engineers into good engineers
You could spend a decade writing "Hello World" in different languages, but that won't make you a senior. It's about impact, and solving problems that matter.
I have met a lot of "seniors" of this "stacking years of experience" type, with 10+ years of experience but when it comes to the impact they make, some mid or even junior engineers outshine them.
So, while years of experience are nice to have, those years aren't enough on their own. True seniority is about continuously leveling up your skills, not just your age.
If you are stagnating with your knowledge and skills, time will run over you.
9) Becoming senior means no more learning
Spoiler alert: the workload doesn't shrink, it mutates and your learning ability needs to adapt. As a senior, you're on for more than just your tasks.
Is that bug blocking 2 other engineers? Yeah, that's now your problem. Your paycheck might be fatter, but so is your responsibility list.
The dream of relaxing and chill as a senior? More like a fantasy.
Sure, you get more say in what you work on, but that freedom comes with strings attached. You're now the circus performer spinning plates on poles - and those plates are your work-life balance.
My advice?
Level up your time management skills like you'd optimize a database query. Learn to delegate like a pro. And remember, your health and relationships are as crucial as any production deployment.
Being a senior engineer isn't about working less. It's about working smarter and knowing when to unplug.
10) Seniors are the most important workers in the company
Our industry moves faster than a bullet. The job security isn't given to anyone.
You might be the only one who can wrangle that ancient legacy system. But what if the whole project gets axed? Suddenly, your "indispensable" skills are about as useful as a floppy disk.
Senior roles come with some perks, but invincibility isn't one of them.
Companies face all sorts of pressures - economic rollercoasters, strategy U-turns, and mergers that make "The Game Of Thrones" look peaceful. When the higher-ups start chanting "higher margins" even the most senior engineers can find themselves in the danger zone.
Tech is one of those rare work domains where staying in trend isn't just nice - it's survival.
You don't need to learn every shiny new framework that pops up on Hacker News. But having a clue about what's out there? That's your career lifejacket.
Embrace the "always be learning" mindset. It's your best defense against the industry's curveballs. Being the only one who knows COBOL might make you feel special, but it won't exactly have recruiters beating down your door.
Remember: In tech, adaptability trumps seniority every time. Stay curious, stay flexible, and maybe keep that resume polished, just in case.
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