It has nothing to do with age. The newer, younger generation of engineers have a good academic foundation, good skills, and a good attitude in that they came to Q to learn and contribute. They want to be part of something great. They don't pretend to have all the answers, they're here to grow. And that's what the leaders are for. The problem is the so-called leaders (NOT ALL OF THEM), the Sr Directors and mainly VPs -- who have no idea how to harness all this engineering horsepower to put it to good use. They don't have a vision, they don't have imagination, are afraid of long-term goals and projects, they don't know what problems to solve, it's clear they're just winging it until they retire. They just copy what other companies seem to be doing, like monkeys. So that lack of direction means everyone's time is basically wasted. Yes, people get paid, but no innovative products of any significance get created. Just half-@$$'ed baloney demos that are meant to show "potential" but in fact show nothing at all.
In the MIDDLE of all this chaos, between the 30-somethings and the 60-somethings are the crop of bad apples that are wanna-be managers and directors, that want to claw their way up. They'll blame others, take undue credit, kiss what needs to be kissed, in hopes of a title, and few extra bucks. They show themselves to have no integrity, honestly, decency, ethics, or morals.
It's really a sad state of affairs, and perhaps what ALL corporations look like on the inside. There are pockets of good people, of smart, collaborative, decent people. But there is a lot of ugliness as well. And good luck if you try to report bad behavior to HR. If there is no lawsuit involved, they are not interested in raising the bar or making waves. Just ostriches with their head in the sand. Pity.