We're Scrum based, so there's no fixed roles (apart from Scrum Master, naturally). You do what needs to be done to get the job done. So I'm a:
Analyst
Engineer
Architect
Developer
Tester
Integrator
I think both progression and variety are possible in any size of company, and not necessarily more difficult to achieve in one or the other.
Anyway, enough side-tracking, good luck to the fella! If he's really BSing then you have nothing to worry about or be angry about, if his life and job are inadequate and he has to "big himself up" or whatever the phrase is, then that's his problem, not anyone else's! If he isn't then that's just one of those things!
