Line engineers totally need to read body language. Presenting a paper or design? You need to read when your audience is drifting. Discussing a contentious code review? Body language can tell you loads about how much they are committed to their approach. Mentoring other engineers? Running an ops review? Asking for approval for something?
There's a million scenarios where understanding body language makes you a more successful line engineer.
Another great reason I want to continue working remote: Why would I want to leak any information in my body language to coworkers or management?
I have no idea what they are going to do with said information, and the fact that I'm not already saying whatever it is my body language is communicating means that I would not like to supply it.
There's a million scenarios where understanding body language makes you a more successful line engineer.