This year, I’ve heard a lot of concern from early-career engineers about their place in the industry alongside AI. That concern is understandable.
In 2025, we’ve seen large-scale layoffs from some of the biggest names in software. Many of these companies have framed those decisions as preparation for what they expect from AI, not necessarily because of what AI is doing today. That messaging can be confusing, especially for engineers just getting started.
As teams look toward the new year and people reflect on their careers, a common worry comes up:
If AI can do what I can do, where does that leave me?
It’s a fair question, especially for entry-level and junior engineers. But I think it’s pointing in the wrong direction.
Junior Engineers Aren’t Being Replaced, They’re Being Repositioned
The assumption is that junior roles exist mainly to do repetitive or mechanical work. If that were true, they would be at risk.
In reality, the most valuable junior engineers I’ve worked with weren’t defined by speed. They were defined by curiosity, attention, and a willingness to engage with problems they didn’t fully understand yet.
AI actually amplifies that. It can be a force multiplier.
Instead of being stuck grinding boilerplate, junior engineers are uniquely positioned to:
- Review and steer AI-generated output
- Catch obvious issues early
- Ask the right clarifying questions
- Escalate decisions that require experience
They become the first line of judgment.
Learning With Guardrails Is a Feature, Not a Bug
One of the hardest parts of being a junior engineer has always been confidence. You know just enough to be dangerous, but not enough to fully trust yourself.
AI-assisted workflows change that dynamic.
Junior engineers can operate closer to the problem space, with guardrails in place. They learn faster because feedback loops are tighter. They see more scenarios earlier in their careers.
That’s not replacing learning. It’s accelerating it.
Why This Creates More Opportunity, Not Less
When the cost of building software drops, organizations don’t slow down. They build more.
More tools. More internal systems. More experiments.
That growth creates demand for people who can supervise, guide, and improve how work flows through a team. Junior engineers are ideal for that role when paired with strong senior oversight.
As teams plan for the year ahead, this shift actually increases the need for thoughtful junior engineers, not eliminates it.
A Hopeful Note Heading Into the New Year
As winter begins and teams take a breath before what’s next, this is worth remembering.
The future of engineering isn’t fewer people doing more work alone. It’s better collaboration between humans and systems, across all experience levels.
For junior engineers willing to learn and engage, the opportunity ahead is real. And for teams willing to invest in them, the payoff will be enormous.