Stop Being a Junior Software Engineer

> only to find out they've been working as a software developer for over a year and a half already

Lol. Come back after a few more years.

> With emerging technologies all the time and improvements to existing technology…

Almost all of the apparent fast change is superficial, an illusion. Software development actually moves very slowly. It still looks much more like 1985 than not. Every “innovation” does not represent a revolution or paradigm shift.

> experienced engineers are also more likely to be hesitant to try newer tools and technologies and instead be "set in their ways." This can lead to them missing out on really terrific advancements in the ecosystem and tools.

An age-biased myth. Evidence? Experienced programmers may not believe the hype or jump on to this month’s fad like a junior, but don’t mistake experience and common sense for too old to learn and change.

> Even though all my experience up to that point had been part-time work while I was still in school, I felt like I knew my team's area of the codebase as well as anyone else

Possibly true, but seems more like an example of the Dunning-Kruger effect.

> I was just a step below architect in a quarter-billion dollar organization only 4 months after graduating from university.

That says something about the organization. I had a similar opportunity early on and got promoted fast, but looking back on it I realize that was more due to organizational dysfunction and my younger self’s willingness to work crazy hard for a better title.