core_graphics's journey

I recently had a conversation with my manager, who informed me that she is putting me on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). I've been a Senior Software Engineer at my company for about four years, and I've consistently met or exceeded expectations in my annual reviews. My mid-year peer reviews have also been overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding my code quality and architecture. However, my manager expressed that she wants me to take on more difficult work and mentor newer engineers. The challenge is that all the engineers on my team are more experienced, holding Senior or Lead titles, but I am eager to take on more challenging tasks as assigned. She sent me a job description for a Senior Engineer role, but I haven't received any formal communication from HR regarding this situation. I am starting to prepare for new opportunities, as I’ve never faced a situation like this in my 14 years of experience. My manager is new, and this is a different experience compared to my previous managers. Fortunately, I have enough savings to last a couple of years, but I'm unsure how to navigate this situation. I've received mixed feedback from others, with some suggesting I document everything discussed with my manager to protect myself. I’m feeling uncertain about my next steps.