My current title is the lofty "Lead Software Engineer" and I can say that these items all apply to me as well, especially that last one. To me, the difference between the Junior and Senior engineers is almost exclusively non-technical in nature. There are a few practices that make a difference in terms of performance, and reducing errors, but for the most part Senior-developership is matter of leading, encouraging, and supporting. It's all the meta-work around software development.
And experience ... the ability to draw upon one's experience and thus to avoid making (major) mistakes, or going off in a wrong direction, that's huge as well, in my opinion :)
My current title is the lofty "Lead Software Engineer" and I can say that these items all apply to me as well, especially that last one. To me, the difference between the Junior and Senior engineers is almost exclusively non-technical in nature. There are a few practices that make a difference in terms of performance, and reducing errors, but for the most part Senior-developership is matter of leading, encouraging, and supporting. It's all the meta-work around software development.
And experience ... the ability to draw upon one's experience and thus to avoid making (major) mistakes, or going off in a wrong direction, that's huge as well, in my opinion :)
Totally agree, soft skills play massive role in a senior role. The ability to communicate and inspire. BTW awesome article :)