Having a tech track is the right direction.
Having no track even better. Some people like what they are doing and the field is constantly changing. You want your best surgeons doing operations not managing other doctors.
Having no track even better. Some people like what they are doing and the field is constantly changing. You want your best surgeons doing operations not managing other doctors.
You need some kind of title so people can feel responsible for career growth and so you can calibrate against other companies' pay at least; it doesn't need to control what kind of work you're allowed to do.
And, as you say, to the degree that position titles mean something cross-company, it gives a point of comparison.