Ask HN: How old were the most talented software engineers you've met?

Re:Ask HN: How old were the most talented software engineers... by ryandrake on Thursday January 03, 2019 @03:54PM (#18819179)

All of the above, plus, at most (non-FAANG) tech companies, as an individual contributor your salary will plateau when you’re around 30-35. During your 20s you’ll get used to double digit pay raises and then all of a sudden that will stop. Even changing jobs won’t give you more than a 1-2% bump as some point.

I’ve had that surreal “we really want you to stay but we can’t give you a raise” conversation too many times in my career.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How old were the most talented software engineers... by SimonPStevens on Thursday January 03, 2019 @06:52PM (#18820599)

Yes, this. So then those young brilliant individuals move into management because it's the only way to continue some semblance of career progression in your 30s.

Then a subset of the gifted technical individuals grow tired of management, step down and go back to the tech to do what they really loved all along.

I've met a fair amount of brilliant engineers in their 40s/50s who have been through management and decided it's not for them and are now shining as engineers again after a decade lost to leadership roles

[ Parent | on HN ]