Red Flags

• Senior with no rubric: title inflation risk.
• “You’ll lead, but no time for design docs.” Translation: chaos is the process.
• “Promotion is headcount-dependent.” Healthy orgs separate performance from vacancies.
• “Tech Lead” as a title without level change. TL is a role, not a level—clarify expectations and comp.

Gut check: if the story of your success depends on heroics, not systems, reconsider.