I’ve yet to see people lacking in ambition gain much influence or political insight in my 25 years in tech. And not even once have I seen loyalty rewarded.
Well, I don't know where your comment about ambition relates to what I said, but otherwise I hope that experience changes for you. That's a long time to be lost in what seems a lonely desert.
I don't know how you managed to equate it to ambition. But for what it's worth, the people I've seen climb to apex positions -- Principal Engg, Architect, Director, etc. tend to be the ones that stayed at the same company for a long time. They tend to have substantial amount of influence that even the higher ups didn't.
I’m a former startup exec and currently a principal engineer. The easiest way to get to where I am is by moving around every 2-3 years, at least within the company (if the company is large enough), but preferably across companies. The best time to move is immediately after a promo. Do not let people treat you like a piece of furniture that’s not going anywhere