The distinction is mostly because a lot of developers lack the fundamental understanding of downstack problems in 2019. It’s not that they can’t do it, it’s that they’ve rarely had to and in so not doing have built themselves a mental Jenga tower that requires time and effort to stabilize and build a foundation beneath.
Companies hate that. Investing in people who will leave is bad, they think. Put them in their box and let them do what they already know.
Which is why they hire me and call me an SRE. (I don’t use the term. My current title is “principal engineer”. I’m not an engineer, though. Neither are most people here.) And I’m not saying downstack ignorance is great. Profitable for me, sure. But it’s a natural response to companies’ unwillingness to invest in their people. They want them pre-made. Hence the made-up titles for people with breadth.
Companies hate that. Investing in people who will leave is bad, they think. Put them in their box and let them do what they already know.
Which is why they hire me and call me an SRE. (I don’t use the term. My current title is “principal engineer”. I’m not an engineer, though. Neither are most people here.) And I’m not saying downstack ignorance is great. Profitable for me, sure. But it’s a natural response to companies’ unwillingness to invest in their people. They want them pre-made. Hence the made-up titles for people with breadth.