[cerrelio]

These modifiers are always a touchy point with me. They aren't applied consistently and imply greater experience and ability, when they often signify time spent at a company or political acumen. Over my 15 years in engineering, I've seen several engineers without senior or lead titles who provide more value than those with the modifier.

I prefer "staff engineer" for engineers who are capable of producing useful, working systems with a team. "Lead" should not be a modifier to a title, just an indicator who makes final technical decisions on a team.

On my resume I only have "software engineer." If I have to negotiate a higher salary after an offer, I point to my accomplishments and not my title.

[clifanatic]

At my last job, my title was "Vice President" (against my preference). There were five of us. I was Vice President over nobody, and spent all my time doing the same things I do (programming computers) at my current job with the title "software architect". If titles didn't used to be meaningless, startup culture has rendered them so.