I'm almost four years work experience and I'm still not a senior engineer.

Feeling quite sad, idk what I'm lacking. I do interviews and they give offers but say I'm not senior yet so take this role instead and I obviously say no to that (salary is even lower than current)

4 years === senior?
What a world we live in.

When was the last time you managed a project?

When was the last time you managed a team and delivered said project in acceptable timeframes?

When was the last time you took a complex project and designed, developed, and delivered the entirety of it with or without a team?

4 years, I'd be doubting you've actually managed yet.

Theres a lot more to being a senior then just being able to play "whack a Jira ticket" and get shit done,

I mean it helps but there's generally a managerial or leadership portion to the role as well, and this is what they are probably looking for.

Try and get some feed back about why your being looked over, but my bet is the lack of experience as a whole (less the 5 years + senior are not a common thing anywhere) and a lack of demonstrated leadership / management as a senior.

@C0D4 It is nice to hear some difference in opinion on this, but I have seen many of my peers going to senior for less than 4 even.

When was the last time you managed a project? I actually lead projects quite frequently, some engineers in team lead projects while others follow, even more senior people in team (been here longer) don't always lead projects, I've led projects they're a part of.

When was the last time you managed a team and delivered said project in acceptable timeframes?

Whenever I've led a project, we draft all the requirements, the necessary scope, milestones, timeframe, everything pretty much for the project. This is something even people only 1 year into the company start doing, depending on number of projects ofcourse (not every engineer can lead a project otherwise they'd be all alone on it!)

@C0D4 When was the last time you took a complex project and designed, developed, and delivered the entirety of it with or without a team?

So a solo project? like end to end only you doing everything? I'd be surprised if such projects exist in most companies tbh, normally atleast two engineers always on a project

@C0D4 I fully get that, but what I do is hardly just wacking a ticket anymore. For many months now I've been leading projects, drafting everything, gathering requirements, solving issues planning how to solve them. I'm even mentoring new hires as their sole mentor

@C0D4 I'm sorry if it just sounds like I'm saying "But I do that!" but I really have searched and read many articles of what makes one senior, what would make you eligible and how to get that promotion and really I already do most if not all of what seniors are expected to do, albeit without the fancy title (or salary boost)

@pandasama given all this, I'd look at what you and your senior / manager are doing that's different in terms of responsibilities.

A lot of companies aren't going to hire a mid level dev (based on YOE alone) into a senior role when most of the team probably out weighs them in YOE without something concrete to think you can do the job.

@C0D4 yeah makes sense that they'll look at the teammates around them to make someone a senior, maybe I should get into the companies I'm seeing colleagues of mine being promoted to senior or tech leads

@pandasama personally, I'd stick it out in current company if it's not a bad job, and work with your manager to put you on a path to achieve the bump up then access your options.

But if at < 5 years your absolutely desperate for the title, a jump into a senior role with another company may be an option if you can find one willing to do it.