> are you in an environment where a 10x developer could actually demonstrate 10x productivity? At most companies, the answer is no, because a 10x engineer is doing in hours what takes people days, and nobody notices.
At most companies a 10x developer will be noticed by other developers. 10 of them will quietly agree to gang up on that 10x developer and backstab away because their own 10 jobs are threatened by that 1 person. Maybe it's just an unspoken agreement between developers all acting in their own interest.
If a 10x or 5x or 2x developer decides not to do things too quickly in a new job so as to "maintain good relations with other staff", they will still know. You won't find too many >1x developers around most businesses because they've all left to do something else, like a PhD program in the OP's case.
At most companies a 10x developer will be noticed by other developers. 10 of them will quietly agree to gang up on that 10x developer and backstab away because their own 10 jobs are threatened by that 1 person. Maybe it's just an unspoken agreement between developers all acting in their own interest.
If a 10x or 5x or 2x developer decides not to do things too quickly in a new job so as to "maintain good relations with other staff", they will still know. You won't find too many >1x developers around most businesses because they've all left to do something else, like a PhD program in the OP's case.