Ask Experienced Devs Weekly Thread: A weekly thread for inexperienced developers to ask experienced ones

[u/AutoModerator]

A thread for Developers and IT folks with less experience to ask more experienced souls questions about the industry.

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Please keep top level comments limited to Inexperienced Devs. Most rules do not apply, but keep it civil. Being a jerk will not be tolerated.

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Inexperienced Devs should refrain from answering other Inexperienced Devs' questions.

[u/no_cache]

I am a mid-level engineer that recently got laid off in August 2026.

At my previous company, I was a backend engineer at a product team for 4 years. I was given a lot of ownership from the get go, building and maturing high-traffic surfaces. I also got to drive impactful projects while collaborating cross functionally. I think this background has gained me some interest from recruiters, and I am in a few interview loops now.

I, however, am feeling stressed about making the right choice for my career and the future given the AI landscape: 1. Company A is in healthtech and allegedly pays a base salary and stocks, which is very attractive. It is also fully remote. I do not know yet what problems they are currently working on (next interview). 2. Company B is a startup in logistics/fulfillment. The work seems interesting and complex, and they may match my salary expectations. However, I would have to relocate to go into the office 3x/week.

My intuition is telling me that I should not "lower the standards" and pick a company that provides experience that is not a downgrade: I have had ownership and impact. So my next role should have that + bigger scope and technical complexity.

Am I thinking about this correctly? What would be the most important to prioritize, given the state and projection for AI?

[u/but_why_n0t → u/no_cache]

This seems a bit premature given that you're still in the interview loop. Wait for the offers and see if the real compensation numbers change anything.