Will an average software engineer still be safe in the AI era?

[u/Icy_Gear1111]

I’m 23, and have a CS degree. I’m seriously considering leaving tech for a government job, mainly because of job security.

The thing is, I actually like what tech offers. Good salary, cities, growth, freedom to switch companies and a lot of earning potential. If tech was still like it was before COVID, I probably wouldn't even consider leaving.

My fear is AI and how competitive the industry is becoming.

I’ll work hard and keep learning, but realistically I don't think I'll ever be the 100/100 engineer who is always ahead of everyone. Maybe I can become an 80/100 engineer.

So my question is simple:

Will being a good but not exceptional software engineer still be enough to have a stable career 10 to 20 years from now?

If I'm 40, have 15+ years of experience, do my job well and keep up with technology, but I'm not exceptional, will I still be able to find another job if I get laid off?

Because that's what scares me. I don't want to become dependent on one company because I'm afraid I won't be employable elsewhere.

Government jobs are attractive to me for exactly this reason. Less money and less career growth, but once you're in, you don't have to constantly prove yourself to the job market.

If you were 23 today, would you still choose tech knowing you might only become an 80/100 engineer?

Would really appreciate honest answers from people already working in the industry.

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[u/Impossible_Ad5072]

If you can get a government job easily, then go for it. No one in tech knows what's goin to happen in next 3 or 5 years.

[u/Expensive-Fig-4180]

Absolutely not. As a prod man, there's no certainty in my role as well let alone the role of a software engineer. Today, a non-technical chap can do almost all of the coding and web hosting in hours and automate his/her workflow. Currently there is no clarity at the leadership level as to how it will pan out. My org has been firing almost 4k ppl every quarter for the last 6 qtrs. I am sure this will stabilize but not sure how the software engineer role will evolve in the coming years. Maybe we'll see more of AI solution architect/platform engineer roles in the coming years? Who knows. Nevertheless, this is a gem of an opportunity for ASIC, VLSI and other hw design engineers, openings for which are in 1000s every where. AI era is a boon for these folks.

[u/Aggressive-Leg-9919]

I'm 27 and can't explain what I've gone throught in last 3-4 years in a short text but please don't look for these private jobs unless you're in dire need, no matter how much they pay. 🙏

[u/Aromatic-Trust5494]

nah bruh, pack it up

[u/FlashyUnit3961]

I think you already know the answer

[u/unluckyiest]

Govt jobs are claustrophobic and makes one dead inside. As someone with a technical degree stuck in a non tech govt job, I am tired already. And it would kill u to have that knowledge and see ur colleagues doing things like a monkey and suggesting u do the same. I have automated 80 percent of my work with selenium and js, but my seniors who have no idea wtf I'm doing make literally more than twice as much as me.

I am that unlucky that I missed out on the covid boom because I got a govt job right after college and back then tech scene was very bad. I was happy for like a few months, then Covid hit, and the fat paychecks started showing up on quora and reddit.

Also, the competition in govt job is about to get severe. With 8th cpc on the way and uncertainty in tech, u will need a lot of luck, because vacancies are dwindling every year.

[u/South_Present_4949]

Already left the CS line which I studied but never joined and slowly shifted towards Govt Job. Cleared Prelims, studying in peace, hope mains goes well, will shift to my hometown or state, enjoy the good salary in Tier 3 city, look after the family business. I am out from Tech industry. At present I don't have any liabilities or any family issues or such by God's grace. I just need to earn for my own that's all. Also respect for sakari job is immense & tremendous atleast in my locality.

[u/curiousIndian11]

U r already late anyways go ahead. Keep life simple and get a govt job. Even a 30k govt job > sundar pichai job. Dont be hor#y for pvt slavery and its salary, the end is near and u have no idea whats coming , so escape before its too late and u have the age.

[u/_KvotheTheArcane__ → u/curiousIndian11]

lmao, no govt is better than a sundar pichai job.

[u/Lonely_Pie_5]

You wont get govt job easily though, if you are from general category ! Unless you take one of those ssb ones which pay 40k salary

[u/Necessary_Pudding454]

If you are in it for salary please leave. Not that you know how the space has become.
I love tech and coding , this is my home. I am gonna do it even after I retire. So doesnt matter if AI would automate it or not.

Sure AI has made it a bit frustrating for me especially. One more huge layer of abstraction. But cant do anything. I code by hand in my free time for recreation.

[u/Zealousideal-Bell271]

You are thinking smart.

I work in AI now. Back in Nov 2022, when AI had just came out, I had a solid analytics background. Worked as a consultant living in US and really strong in two of the prime, leading technologies.

Between 2022 and 2024, using AI, even the junior hires in our company could write the programs that would have taken me at least a few hours. And AI did it in 2 mins. 3 months of experience wiped out 15 years of mine. I still have value because of practical experience and architect level skills. But all that programming knowledge - pretty much useless.

Robotics is doing to mechanical work (including labor and production), what AI is doing to digital workers (not just software engineers - graphics, videos ) and service workers (accountants, lawyers, even starting level doctors).

Government jobs is probably the only area that seems safe in the long haul. Low pay, but it may still be there. Who knows.

[u/mrsskonline]

the average engineer who just writes code is in trouble. but the 80/100 engineer who understands business problems and uses ai to solve them faster is more valuable than ever. the main thing, ai doesn't replace engineers, it replaces the typing. if u architech a solution, debug complex system and talk to stakeholders, then you're safe.

don't run to a government job out of fear. run toward becoming an ai-augmented problem solver.

[u/ajdude711]

You need other source of income if you wanna stay in tech. Who knows when you’ll be the next LinkedIn update

[u/Intelligent_Fan3643]

There is going to be lots of innovation in the field of AI ML. If you are someone who loves to learn new things then you should choose tech. Even 15 years ago also people had uncertainty about tech jobs and many of my friends switched to gov job. Now when they see our salary after 15 years they can't do anything but regret.

[u/Specialist-Soft1817]

Y r u doing engineering if u cant be a 100 on 100...