I used to work for a MegaCorp that had explicit parallel mangement/technical tracks, where the pay scales and seniority were matched and based on one's experience and responsibility in their respective track; and policy disallowed you from reporting to a manager with a lower seniority level.

Said MegaCorp had its share of problems (hence the "used to work"), but that policy solved many issue that relate to experienced techies working for inexperienced retards (they might have still been retards, but they'd at least be experienced ones).