What it takes to Become a Senior Software Engineer

Stephen Wayne
2 min readJan 27, 2023

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Becoming a Senior Software Engineer, Take II

So, you want to be a senior software engineer, eh? Well, buckle up buttercup, because it ain’t gonna be easy. But, fear not, I’m here to guide you through the journey to becoming a top-notch coder.

First things first, you gotta have the skills. And I’m not talking about just any old skills, I’m talking about the skills that make a senior engineer stand out from the rest of the pack. You need to be a master of your craft, a true wizard of code. That means you need to be proficient in multiple programming languages, know your way around a variety of frameworks and libraries, and have a deep understanding of computer science concepts.

But, having the skills is only half the battle. The other half is attitude. You see, a senior engineer isn’t just someone who can write good code, they’re also a leader, a mentor, and a problem solver. You need to have the ability to communicate your ideas effectively, work well in a team, and have the drive to continuously improve and learn.

So, how do you acquire these skills and attitude? Well, the most important thing is to never stop learning. Read books, articles, and blogs on the latest technologies and trends. Attend meetups and conferences. And most importantly, practice, practice, practice. The more you code, the better you’ll get.

Another important thing to keep in mind is to be open to feedback and criticism. As a senior engineer, you’ll be working with a lot of different people, and it’s essential to be able to take constructive criticism and use it to improve your skills.

Finally, don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things. Senior engineers are often called upon to lead projects, and that means taking charge and making decisions. It’s important to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.

So, there you have it, folks. If you want to become a senior software engineer, it’s all about skills, attitude, and a never-ending desire to learn and improve. Happy coding!

Note that all of the above was written by ChatGPT— you find find the Jasper.ai rendition here, along with a wrap-up and comparison! There is no art for this work because ChatGPT is unable to generate art at the time of this writing.

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Stephen Wayne

Backend cloud engineer at HashiCorp. Former Electrical Engineer turned to the dark side.