Someone in a subordinate role with little to no authority or autonomy. To me, it sounds like a subtly derogatory reference, meant to conjure up imagery of "line

Someone in a subordinate role with little to no authority or autonomy. To me, it sounds like a subtly derogatory reference, meant to conjure up imagery of "line cooks" that spend their time cooking one thing and one thing only --eggs, bacon, patties, etc-- and sending it down the line to be finished by the actual "chefs."