Senior developers cry too: What's next after you're "Senior"?

[Sascha]

? Senior - and Stuck?


When you're just starting in tech, your growth path feels clear (*it can include levels on each position): Junior → Mid → Senior. Companies actively support this journey through mentorship, internal promotions, and learning budgets.

But then one day… you're a Senior Developer. And suddenly, the next step isn't obvious at all.

You start asking: What now? Do I specialize? Manage? Stay still? Leave?

? Early career growth feels predictable


For juniors and mids, it's a numbers game. Apply enough, learn consistently, and build pet projects, and growth usually comes. , the 2025 market is tighter than five years ago - there are fewer entry-level roles, and employers want experience - but the path still exists.

The real challenge? It's not obvious what the path is after you become "senior."

? Post-Senior: What are your options?


Once you hit that senior wall, you realize: growth from here isn't linear, and it's definitely not guaranteed.
Let's talk about the two most common paths:

1. ? The technical track: Becoming a Principal Engineer


This is about going deep - frameworks, systems design, architecture, and tooling. You become the go-to person for critical questions across projects and tech stacks.

But here's the catch:

• Not every company defines this role clearly: Sometimes, companies expect Principal Engineers to also lead people, which muddles the waters. That's not always accurate: ideally, Principals work across teams, helping scale architecture and elevate technical direction, not directly managing engineers..
• Often, there's only 1 Principal Engineer per 10–50 developers.
• You'll likely need backend experience (Node.js, Express/Nest), deep frontend knowledge (React/Vue/Angular), and systems understanding (infra, CI/CD, monitoring).
• You'll be expected to bridge tech silos, mentor seniors, and think about architecture, not just features.

It's a hard role to earn - and even harder to find.

2. ? The Management Track: Becoming a Team Lead


This is about communication, adaptability, and people.
, tech still matters - but what matters more is your ability to:

• Guide a team's direction
• Advocate for devs to PMs/stakeholders
• Translate business needs into technical roadmaps
• Manage conflict, mentoring, and team health

And again, most teams only have one lead. Some companies stretch that even further: one lead for multiple squads.

You're now measured by what you build and how well your team builds and ships.

? The Scarcity Problem


Here's what's often not discussed:

"There are way fewer leadership roles than senior devs."

Statistically, you may be looking at a 1:50 ratio between senior engineers and leadership/principal-level roles. Which means…

Competing for a Lead/Principal role often feels like being a junior again:

• Polish your profile
• Apply broadly
• Get ignored (less often)
• Repeat

Except this time, you've already put years into the field. That stings.

So… Is it even worth trying?


Absolutely - yes.

, the road beyond Senior is messy. , there are fewer roles, more ambiguity, and less structure. But if you care about your craft, if you're curious, if you want to shape products - not just features - then:

? There's always room for those who go deeper.
? There's always demand for devs who can see the bigger picture.
? And there's the real opportunity in combining technical strength with product thinking and communication.

It might take time. It might not happen in your current company.
But if you're intentional, you can grow beyond the title.

So keep building. Keep sharing. Keep leveling up - even when it's not obvious what the next level is.

And if you're on this path too, I'd love to hear your story.

? And sometimes… You don't want to grow


There's also an honest truth: Not every senior wants to "go up."

Some developers love being experts. They love shipping features. They like solving problems, not managing people or fighting architecture wars.

That's valid. Growth doesn't always mean a new title.
Sometimes, it means deepening mastery or mentoring others.
Sometimes, it means side projects, writing, teaching, or open source.

? Post scriptum


In future posts, I'll share more practical tips on:
Finding real growth as a senior
Positioning yourself for Principal/Lead roles
Building a portfolio that signals depth, not just activity

But for now, follow the blog, and let me know: Where do you want to grow from here?

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