This is a v good thread on being an exec, and this point is key. In junior roles your job becomes marginally easier when you screw up because you get more support (to a point). It's the opposite for execs, bc of higher expectations and bc no one else knows what to do either.
Some software engineers become dramatically more capable than others, over time. There are many factors, but much of it comes down to a few simple practices that anyone can adopt: