from Hacker News

Ask HN: Are senior engineers not senior anymore?

by aristofun on 6/13/25, 7:30 PM with 10 comments

Do you feel like SWE title has been devalued a lot lately?

Does it look to you that many of today's senior SWE would barely pass middle bar 10 years ago?

With erosion of junior (and effectively middle) titles these days everyone is senior now.

Yet the dispersion in skills, experience is outrageous. Even within the same organization.

Why do you think this is?

  • by yodsanklai on 6/13/25, 7:56 PM

    Is there such a title as "senior SWE"? many tech companies don't have such titles and if they do, it's definitely not standardized in any way.

    There are some staff SWEs in company A who wouldn't pass probation period in more selective company B. And you have junior engineers who are much more knowledgeable and productive than seniors.

    I don't know why anyone would care about these titles. If they want to compare themselves to their peers to boost their ego, salary is a better metrics.

  • by BeetleB on 6/13/25, 8:25 PM

    Concrete examples would really help.

    Consider this:

    If someone responded with a simple "Yes", would that satisfy you?

    What if someone responded with a simple "No"? Would that satisfy you?

    Don't expect them to be forthcoming with details if you haven't provided any?

  • by napolux on 6/13/25, 8:25 PM

    To say "senior are no more" first you have to define what a senior engineer is. After 20 years in the industry I'm still not sure about it.

    I have my own definition which might differ from yours

  • by jedberg on 6/13/25, 8:26 PM

  • by JojoFatsani on 6/13/25, 11:18 PM

    Senior SRE is like a 1st Lt these days