No, they didn't interview anyone in the company for the position, even a "younger worker" who was their longer than I was. Boy was he pissed, but the company has some big defense contracts now, so he stayed too....
The Army thought I was qualified for management when they promoted me to Captain, but people are forcibly retired out of the army to make room for younger guys.
Engineering is a Geriocracy.
My advice to you is get out of engineering and do something that gives you more pleasure......or resign yourself to the fact that you may never get promoted. I wouldn’t do that, but it seems you’ve made up your mind that you’re stuck where you are. Go to work in the grocery industry, drive a truck.....anything that gives you pleasure.
We have a relative that is a full Col in the Rangers. He will never see a battle command again. The younger guys can move faster and think faster..........so what’s the big deal? Just life.
There's your problem. You should have been an NCO, then you'd know how to work for a living.