> Most software engineers in my experience have quite a lot of control, and a large component of growing in your career is learning to perceive the control that you have.

I've found that most of that autonomy comes with trust, and that trust gets unlocked via good relationships, and good relationships get unlocked by a history of good communication.

You are 100% correct that every person has agency, the trick is to get yourself into a social dynamic where it is acceptable to assert it.