Ask HN: How to “level up” as a software engineer?

4 points by aphextron 6y ago ↗ HN

After nearly a decade in the industry, the long term career prospects of being a rank and file web developer hacking on React UIs seems tenuous at best. What's the best way to go about transitioning to "real" software engineering i.e. systems development, aerospace, finance, AI/ML, etc.?

I find the future of the web platform dubious, and staking my entire livelihood on its' existence is increasingly a terrifying thought. What are the most in demand skills outside of web development?

2 comments

[ 5.2 ms ] story [ 12.6 ms ] thread

JMTQp8lwXL 6y ago ↗

Web applications will be a thing for awhile. The long term strategy is to develop financial planning skills that can handle not needing employment in a decade -- that way, whatever way the winds of change blow, you have a choice if you'd like to be part of it. And if you do, great, and if simple React app development becomes totally commoditized and developer salaries decline, you're still secure.

It's indeed a terrifying thought, but in risk assessment, there's two main considerations: impact and likelihood. Your speculation is high impact, but low likelihood.

thedevindevops 6y ago ↗

>aerospace, finance, AI/ML

I used to think they were handled more 'professionally' too - I don't think that anymore.