[Ancapistani]

I like this a lot :)

A senior engineer has knowledge and experience. A staff engineer has discernment.

In an ideal world, people should be promoted to staff and above when they demonstrate that discernment. We should always be unafraid to share our perspectives, but staff engineering is about knowing when to get involved, when to watch, when to ignore, and when to actively look away.

As “Sr. Staff”, I see my job as knowing when to exercise authority far more than merely exercising it.

[OutOfHere]

From your comment, the resulting impression is that staff engineers aren't needed. They're a luxury that is diminishing in value every single day with AI filling the gap.