I think you're absolutely on point. Working for an established tech company is a great way to accelerate your continued education. Just because you're not doing everything yourself doesn't mean you can't develop a broad exposure to ideas. Depending on how much access to source code and documentation you have, you can stand on the shoulders of many giants.

It's also worth pointing out that you can use your industry experience to develop essential political skills, and I'm not talking about how to be a Machiavellian dick. If you want to be a good leader, work on learning how to inspire and influence people's hearts and minds to work toward a common goal. Learn how to ask good questions and really listen. Figuring out what the goal is and effectively communicating that with others is key, but if you can actually motivate others to push themselves to advance that goal, you're on your way to becoming a very effective leader. BTW, you can practice these skills on any level because it doesn't require position or power. It simply requires that you interact, listen to and conspire with your coworkers, especially the ones that hold power over you.