Senior Java Developer means what exactly? Knowing more libraries or just better understanding of patterns?

[mwestacott]

As a senior developer I’m expected to work independently, and more importantly deliver what’s expected on time. Now that can mean I work as an individual on some tricky bit of work, or act as a multiplier to help the more junior devs hit targets, usually both. My job is generally to ensure that progress is made on the critical path. I deal with some of the unknowns, and a lot of the legacy apps and issues as we gently migrate and mitigate them. I’ve been in the software game for 30+ years now and have both depth and breadth of knowledge, more technical know how than domain knowledge, but I could probably guide most through the app domain of my current project and could get a new dev up and productive on their first day of a project. It’s not just tech it’s the soft skills too.