I don't think that was a typo, earlier in the article they classify planning as the domain of middle management, and judgement-based execution as belonging at the supervisory level. I think they are copying this from retail management, I have a hard time imagining a use for an engineer who didn't have the ability to plan or apply judgement.

I think what that commenter meant, and I agree, is that the "savant" in this case was referring to a literal computer; the programmer as an IC is "delegating" a task by writing a program and having the computer execute it.

Yep this is what I was getting at.

Sounds like a pretty typical junior engineer to me.

Imagine the chaos that would ensue if each IC had four to eight juniors to supervise... :)

They effectively wouldn't be ICs anymore if an important part of their job is to supervise

The chaos would be great for the bean counters. "Productivity" will be up for a month or two. Until it isn't.

That's literally what "senior engineer" is supposed to be doing according to what I hear are current industry norm, which makes as much sense as what your comment makes it sound. Basically a hidden management role, with all the responsibilities but none of the power.