[bradlys]

This is something I've noticed early on even as a junior engineer (maybe it's my general upbringing that highlighted this well known fact of life). It becomes obvious quite quickly how little your knowledge and work matters. You can be incredibly smart and come up with wonderful solutions but it won't mean a thing if your boss(es) doesn't like you.

For a profession that has frequently professed meritocracy - it is certainly not. It's unfortunate.