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This is 100% true for progressing to management. However the OP doesn't want management, which is fine, that's what principals are for. They should just find a good "servant leadership" manager who will get all the BS out of their way, and let them do "their job."

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Even ICs benefit from learning this stuff.

There are really two paths: management or senior/staff IC. Up or out — stagnate in a low-level or mid-level role, and you will get replaced with a younger engineer who will do the same work for less, or a contractor, or outsourcing. Everyone is expected to improve until they reach either senior/staff IC or management. You can’t get there unless you learn how to deal with the non-coding parts of the job.

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