Engineers do get promoted for writing simple code

The popular belief that writing overcomplicated code leads to job security or promotion is largely a myth. Engineers who write simple, clean code tend to ship faster, accumulate more successful projects, and build reputations as reliable deliverers — all of which managers notice and reward. Non-technical managers may initially be impressed by visible complexity, but over time they track results, not perceived difficulty. Deliberately overcomplicating work backfires through slower delivery, more bugs, and complaints from teammates who inherit the mess. The real career advice: it's fine to frame your work as slightly complex, but actually doing unnecessary complexity is counterproductive.