Pretty much all the things you call out as bizarre I've seen some better interns slice right though. * Refactor - Sitting down with a jr. dev for 15-30 minutes

Pretty much all the things you call out as bizarre I've seen some better interns slice right though. * Refactor - Sitting down with a jr. dev for 15-30 minutes at a time going over the scope for something that is about a day or two of work. Done this many times. We're not talking high-level architecture work, just tech debt the team has let slip away. * Great. I've never been in a situation where there wasn't lack of coverage though. Focus on things that are somewhat repeatable in nature. The point is doing tests is a great way to learn how the system operates, and basic unit tests cornering edge cases are easily repeatable patterns. Validate w/ PRs, you don't need to hand hold the entire way. No books needed, tons of other tests in your suite serve as guidance. * Build/deploy system issues. 3rd party integrations. Better approaches to update dependencies. A better approach to documenting an API, automating code documentation, etc. Some particular lack that isn't crucial to operations but is fine letting a cheaper resource tackle as a research task. * Can blueprint anything that lacks proper documentation. If they can do research for their CS degree they can research and document your system. Yes, you will be giving them little tidbits along the way on how to properly debug or set things up. AFA 2 seniors vs. 3 juniors, totally dependent on your team structure and the work that needs to be done. If you run as tight a ship as you imply the sr. devs will be a better bet every time from a value basis - but that's rarely the real world. I wouldn't add more than 1 junior at a time to a team of < 6 devs. Lastly, addressing "that junior developer will take 3-4x the time to handle the same task as a senior engineer". Well duh, don't give juniors the same work as your seniors. The whole point of hiring lower level staff is you have work that is better suited for lower level staff, or rather, work that is too costly to give your sr. staff. This whole it's our duty to train the next generation... you're running a business, not a charity. And then you get caught up in this cancerous notion of people being in debt to you because you don't know how to properly utilize them.