It reminds me a bit (perhaps oddly) of technical consulting work. Sure you can check the box, deliver the letter of the contract, and collect your pay. There's

It reminds me a bit (perhaps oddly) of technical consulting work. Sure you can check the box, deliver the letter of the contract, and collect your pay. There's a difference between that and building what the customer wants, not what they need; driving end user adoption to make the project successful; caring about outcomes and satisfying your stakeholders, not just about solving the technical challenge as it is presented. There are specialist techies who want nothing to do with half that equation, and don't need to pretend that they do because they are so valued for the specialized thing at which they are a truly expert professional. If you're not like that, another way to add value is by blending technical skills with the other half of that equation.