Ask HN: Software Engineer hitting 40: what's next?

Article summary

A software engineer with 18 years of experience is facing challenges in their career, feeling limited by the scope of Staff and Principal Engineer roles, and seeking advice on how to progress in their career. They are considering switching to an Engineering Manager track or Technical Product Management. The engineer wants to continue learning and working with new technologies while having a greater impact and earning a higher salary. They are interviewing for Staff and Principal Engineer roles but are disappointed by the reality of these positions.

Main themes

• Career progression
• Staff and Principal Engineer roles
• Management vs technical tracks
• Big tech companies
• Start-ups and entrepreneurship
• Organizational structure
• Technical expertise vs management skills
• Career development and salary support

What commenters say

• Some argue that moving into management is a better option for career progression and higher salaries, especially for those not at top-tier companies.
• Others disagree, stating that coding can have significant respect, impact, and salary progression, and that management is not the only path to success.
• It is suggested that big tech companies have more opportunities for principal engineers and can provide better career development and salary support.
• Effective principal and staff engineers need to buy into the company's tech stack and development ethos, but this can limit their ability to bring new perspectives and skills.
• Some commenters believe that start-ups can offer more freedom to work on a variety of tasks, but may not provide high cash compensation.
• The idea that a flat organizational structure is desirable is disputed, with some arguing that it is unrealistic and can lead to dysfunction.
• There is a debate about the value of technical expertise versus management skills in career progression, with some arguing that technical skills are not enough to guarantee success.
• It is argued that staff engineers should be able to exercise their skills and knowledge to bring new perspectives, rather than just following the company's existing way of doing things.