Yeah, I agree. I would suggest the following scale: - "Software engineer: solves problems at one's best levels of autonomy and quality." Any pre-defined set o

Yeah, I agree. I would suggest the following scale: - "Software engineer: solves problems at one's best levels of autonomy and quality." Any pre-defined set of boxes for people to sit in I've seen have only restricted people's opportunity for growth. I also don't care much for the internal bureaucracy and politics that people waste time on that come with a pre-defined set of boxes. Yes, you should be compensated at a market-appropriate level for your expertise. But a pre-defined set of boxes also does not help with that. Yes, if you want a fancy title when you are looking for a job, feel free to call yourself Grand Emperor of the Thundering Herds. If someone calls me for a reference, I will say, "sure, ZephyrBlu was our grand emperor of the Thundering herds, and their responsibilities were..."