I've done a bunch of 2 years, a 5 year and an 8 year. Staying longer at a place you like is great. I don't believe there are no new challenges, after a few year

I've done a bunch of 2 years, a 5 year and an 8 year. Staying longer at a place you like is great. I don't believe there are no new challenges, after a few years you have more knowledge and authority to do the major work on a big system. Choose an area you like and work on it - maybe the front end or the back end tuning, or build pipeline, or monitoring - there are a million things that need doing. Alternatively you get to choose on refactorings, rewrites, and new architecture. I think you have to be honest and confident enough to say you want to do it, or often just start doing it. If you're the new guy on the team you can't really do that, the guys who've been around can. The other benefit is getting to know business and management. Usually they turn over less frequently, they love someone who actually is committed to the business and they can rely on. The culture of a place that looks after people and has longer term employees is great. Less turnover means less interviewing, fewer clueless newbies that need training and fixing up after. My favorite project had 30 devs and 25 of us had been there for more than 5 years - no one need hand holding or did stupid things, we were super productive and everyone enjoyed a great time. For some people it can be easier to get promoted by moving, I'd suggest the opposite - just start doing the job you want to do, usually no one will complain. Finally you said people you work with moved on to "better places" is that grass is greener or you are always working for your second choice employers? Oh - one last thing. If you have a family its great to have a steady work schedule and you can concentrate on looking after babies and not worry about extra job hunting stress. Find a place you like and enjoy the stability.