Yes you absolutely can work your way up to become a senior captain at an airline but to reach that prestigious position you need to follow a defined path that involves earning the right licenses accumulating sufficient flying experience and typically holding the highest qualifications recognized in aviation.
First you must obtain a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) which qualifies you to start working as a pilot in various roles such as a trainee co pilot (also known as first officer) charter pilot cargo pilot or flight instructor depending on your ratings and flight hours.
Next once you have built up your flying hours typically around 1,500 hours and gained a Type Rating for the specific aircraft you’ll fly, you can upgrade to an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). This is the top-level pilot license that is required to command aircraft in airline operations.
With your ATPL and the necessary flight hours under your belt you become eligible to become an Airline Captain taking full responsibility for the flight. As you continue gaining experience and seniority, you can further advance to even higher level roles. These may include working as an Examiner or Check Pilot who assesses other pilots or as a Corporate Jet Captain or leading operations as a Private Fleet Chief Pilot all of which are considered senior positions in both airline and private aviation sectors.
summary
becoming a senior captain at an airline involves progressing step by step from CPL to ATPL accumulating flight hours earning specific aircraft type ratings and building experience. By successfully completing each stage of this journey you can achieve the senior leadership role of a captain in an airline.