A brief guide for each seniority level:
Junior Engineers (L3) 🟢
AI is very good at doing the simple tasks that Junior engineers usually do, like basic coding and setup. Because of this, you must show that you are more than just a coder.
Use AI to learn faster and master the basics, but focus on being the person who can find and fix the mistakes AI makes. Your goal is to use AI to handle small tasks so you can quickly start taking on bigger responsibilities.
Mid-Level Engineers (L4) 🟡
At this level, you might get stuck just building small features over and over. Since AI makes coding much faster, you need to focus on the bigger picture to stay valuable.
Do not just write code; think about how the whole system works. Focus on making sure the software is fast, safe, and easy for people to use. You want to be the engineer that leaders trust to finish big projects without making any mistakes.
Senior Engineers (L5+) 🟣
Senior engineers have a lot of experience, but there is a new risk called “Experience Rot.” This means that some of your old habits might not be useful anymore because of AI.
Do not ignore AI, but do not trust it to do everything alone either. Instead of just using AI to write more code, use your time to build better systems. Your job is to create a safe environment where your whole team can use AI to work better.