A troubling shift is occurring across engineering departments: companies are hiring far fewer junior developers. The common justification is that AI tools now write code faster and cheaper than entry-level humans. While technically true, this perspective misses the fundamental purpose of software engineering, which involves more than just writing syntax and executing commands.

Real engineering focuses on maintaining and evolving complex, interconnected systems filled with institutional knowledge. That knowledge lives in human minds, and humans eventually leave. The primary role of juniors has always been to absorb this context and become the next generation of senior leaders. AI cannot solve human mortality or replace deep organizational memory.

Ironically, AI might be the best reason to hire juniors right now. Gen Z workers are driving adoption and helping older colleagues learn new tools. Plus, AI accelerates onboarding by letting new hires learn basics independently. Companies with strong mentorship programs can now bring juniors up to speed faster than ever, turning them into high-leverage assets.