This kind of discussion is in part due to pressures from HR, again something more common in big companies. To standardize hiring practices HR people do somethin

This kind of discussion is in part due to pressures from HR, again something more common in big companies. To standardize hiring practices HR people do something called banding or leveling where they do try to define job levels and responsibilities across the industry. Primarily so they know what to pay people. Also so people can plan career tracks. Yeah it’s all Kool Aid but a lot of people are drinking it. Also there is a demonstrable difference between someone who just codes and someone who leads projects. Generally the senior path can be seen as a technical leader path, and that is transferable between companies. But the word senior itself has lost meaning. Senior at my company is squarely in the middle. Principals are the true seniors.