In general, IT engineering field, these are common career advancement paths from here :

- Management
- In-depth tech / Specialist -> QA-Dev Support -> Full time back-end Dev that owns several patents for new tech
- Project based engineer - > consultant - > Architect

Of course, other options like :
- Jump into other latest demanding tech : AI, security, cloud
- tech audit / compliance
- be a trainer

Many more, just look around in linkedin and social more with IT field players
Key point is : If you are stuck doing the same thing more than 3 years, you should move forward [try new role / learn new tech / obtain new certification]
Of course everyone gets to choose what to do on their life

good luck ~

This post has been edited by stinger: Jun 21 2023, 02:58 PM