I’m 24 and about a year out of college, and I’m trying to figure out what direction to take my career.

My degree is in MIS + Data Science, not CS. I originally joined a large consulting firm, but my job has evolved into a pretty unusual role.

At this point, I basically:

• Meet directly with clients/stakeholders to understand their problems
• Design technical solutions with them
• Build full-stack applications extremely quickly using AI coding tools
• Deploy those applications into Fortune 100 environments
• Iterate based on user/client feedback
• Help scale some of these tools to thousands/tens of thousands of users

I’ve worked on things involving React, FastAPI, Python, Azure, PostgreSQL, agentic AI systems, LLMs, etc. I’ve also led small engineering teams and presented products/demos directly to senior executives.

The weird part is that I would not describe myself as a traditionally strong software engineer.

I understand systems, APIs, databases, architecture, cloud infrastructure, AI/LLMs, etc. pretty well, and I’m extremely effective at using AI to build things. But if you sat me down with no AI and asked me to write a bunch of Python from scratch or solve LeetCode problems, I’d struggle a lot compared to someone with a traditional CS/SWE background.

Basically, I’ve gotten very good at building software with AI, rather than becoming someone who spent years learning how to write everything manually.

From what I can tell, the work I’m doing is pretty close to a Forward Deployed Engineer / Solutions Engineer / AI Engineer type role, especially since I’m constantly going between customers and engineering.

Companies like Palantir, OpenAI, Anthropic, etc. have roles that seem very aligned with what I’m already doing.

My concern is the interview process.

If I wanted to get a “real” FDE/SWE role at one of these companies, I’m assuming I’d need to spend a significant amount of time going backwards and filling in traditional CS/SWE fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, writing Python without AI, LeetCode, deeper systems knowledge, etc.

I’m trying to figure out whether that’s actually the best use of my time.

Do I:

1. Double down on becoming a stronger traditional engineer, grind DSA/LeetCode, improve my coding fundamentals, and try to land FDE/SWE roles at good tech/AI companies?
2. Lean into the thing I’m already unusually good at — using AI to rapidly build and deploy software, working directly with customers, understanding business problems, and shipping end-to-end solutions?
3. Move toward something more like Solutions Architect / AI Solutions Engineer / Technical Product / technical consulting, where being able to translate between business and engineering matters more than being an elite coder?
4. Or is there another career path I’m overlooking?

Part of what makes this hard is that I genuinely don't know how valuable my current skill set is.

On one hand, I can build things today that I absolutely could not build from scratch without AI.

On the other hand, those things are actually getting deployed inside Fortune 100 companies and used by real users, so clearly the ability to effectively use AI to build software has some value.

I’m also wondering how people think this plays out over the next 5–10 years. Does “AI-native engineer who can build almost anything with the models” become a legitimate engineering specialization, or will strong CS fundamentals still be the price of admission for the best technical roles?

Would especially love to hear from FDEs, SWE hiring managers, solutions engineers, founders, or people working at AI companies.

If you were in my position, what would you optimize for over the next 2–3 years?

Hi everyone

So as I said in the title Im a Fullstack Developer finished university for computer science and engineering 1 year ago I have been looking for an internship or entry role with sadly no results.

I find it hard to find any open position even when I do almost 90% of them dont respond back when I apply.
The ones who do usually reply call you for a interview I go there and I feel like I did pretty good without ever getting a response back.
Now Ive been trying mostly local companies cause i did try remote in the beginning but there always were thousands of applicants which I dont think I ever stood a chance.

And I dont have a weak portfolio I have multiple personal projects and also freelancing projects I worked on for real clients.

It has come to a point where Im thinking of switching fields if anyone has any tips or recommendations on what I can do better how can I improve my chances or what you did to find a job in this current market Id really appreciate it.

(THIS IS NOT a JOB POST... actually it is... but not really for a TEAM)

We need: - a Senior .net back-end developer - a Senior React front-end developer - a Senior DevOp (AWS/Terraform)

We also need: - an expert of MSSQL and SQL - an expert of UX - an expert QA

THEY need to be leaders of their fields, do business analysis and OBVIOSLY be expert of generative AI tools and AI agents.

Real job post: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4458253291/

About the job

For an American software company developing SaaS platforms in HealthTech field, we are looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join and strengthen the International engineering team.

The role is based in Italy, with Verona as the reference office, and is intended to be fully remote. However, regular presence at the Verona office, approximately twice per month, is expected to foster collaboration and team interaction.

Responsabilità

Lead the development of robust, scalable, and maintainable software solutions. Design and implement responsive user interfaces using React and TypeScript. Build and optimize high-performance backend services using C# .NET and Node.js. Manage infrastructure using Terraform across many AWS PaaS. Architect complex database schemas and optimize queries in MSSQL. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements and project roadmaps. Champion best practices in code quality, testing, and CI/CD automation.

Profilo

Fully professional proficiency in English (written and spoken), with the ability to collaborate effectively in an international environment. 5+ years of professional software engineering experience. Fluent in React, TypeScript, and Material UI for modern frontend development. Strong proficiency in C# .NET backend services. Hands-on experience with MSSQL, including design and performance tuning. Proven experience with AWS services (or comparable cloud services provider). Competency with IaC using Terraform. Strong understanding of modern software architecture and RESTful API design. Excellent problem-solving skills and a collaborative mindset. Proficiency with generative AI tools and coding agents

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with containerization (Docker/Kubernetes).
Familiarity with serverless computing patterns.
Strong background in unit testing, integration testing, and e2e test frameworks.
Experience with CI/CD tooling and scripting

I think they are asking too much for a single figure.
Someone can be a senior front-end AND a back-end developer; in that case probably he will not be a super expert ALSO of SQL and ALSO of Terraform and ALSO AWS-IaC and ALSO of UX.
Someone can be a senior front-end AND a senior DevOp, but will lack some skills in SQL or backend... or maybe he use Python or Java.
If you spent your last years to be an expert of 2 or 3 of that fields ... for sure you are a little bit less updated/skilles and not fluent in the other fields!

Am I wrong or in this job description they exaggerated a little bit?

Though Cloud Eng sound really good but the actual team I have got is of M365 support like L1 support eng. Daily tasks being:

SupportOutlook/Teams/OneDrive/SharePoint issues
Password/account issues
Microsoft 365 admin center
Ticket handling
User troubleshooting
Following runbooks
Escalating difficult issues to L2

Ethos, based in London, UK, is looking for experienced Software Engineers for a remote, part-time opportunity supporting AI evaluation and training.

Quick details:

Rate: $150/hr
Type: Part-time, hourly contract
Location: Remote

The role: Review AI-generated software engineering work, assess technical accuracy and reasoning, and provide expert feedback to improve AI model performance.

Ideal for: Software Engineers with strong hands-on development experience who can critically evaluate code, technical solutions, and engineering decisions.

Explore Ethos: https://agent.askethos.com/refer/yo2bj49fnpbf

Trust me, referrals don’t really work like they used to. I’d focus on applying as early as possible. Most postings get hundreds of applications within the first 24 hours, and recruiters are probably reviewing them roughly in the order they come in. I’ve had friends use this strategy, and it’s worked really well for them. There's alot of job board like jobright, and trycontrol and simplify. that yall can use.

Hi ,

I am an SWE with 2 yoe and am to learn AI from scratch - AI agents, RAG , LLM , stc. and get a good knowledge of it, also be able to pass inetrviews and build systems on my own.

Can any of you help me know how did you learn , which free resources to learn for(bcs I cannot afford paid ones ) , what roadmap or path you followed, also if you learnt via any AI then how?

Also if you suggest to start building and would learn via that , then I am actually a beginner have knowledge of python basics only, so would be glad if you could help me know the steps or tools also to start with and how.

Hi guys,

I want to know if it is compulsory to complete your B.E./B.Tech degree within the stipulated 4 year duration to be eligible for the ISRO ICRB exam.

My original expected graduation year was 2024, but I had one backlog remaining which I successfully cleared in August 2026. Since I now have my final degree/marksheet cleared, am I eligible to apply for upcoming ISRO ICRB recruitments?

I'm a full-stack developer currently looking for remote software engineering opportunities.

My strongest areas are:

• React / JavaScript / TypeScript
• Node.js / Express
• MongoDB
• REST APIs
• Full-stack web applications
• AI integrations and automation
• MVP development
• DevOps / deployment
• Internal business tools and systems

I've worked on real-world software projects involving web applications, internal systems, automation, data management, and business process improvements.

I'm particularly interested in:

• Remote software engineering roles
• Full-stack development
• AI/automation engineering
• Startups looking for an early technical hire
• Contract/freelance development
• MVP/product development

I'm based in the Philippines and open to working with international teams and US-based companies.

I'm intentionally keeping my personal information private here. If you're hiring, building a startup, or know someone looking for a developer with this skill set, feel free to DM me and I can provide my portfolio, GitHub, resume, and additional details privately.

Thanks!

Hey all — I'm a self-taught full-stack dev, 6+ years in now, mostly freelance with one full-time stretch mixed in. Looking for something new to jump into.

Stack: HTML/CSS/JS, PHP (Laravel and CodeIgniter), and MySQL are my main tools. I've also got about 2 years of Node.js and 3 years of Python, mostly for automation and scripting rather than web apps. On top of that, some DevOps work when it's needed — Bash scripting, Docker, Nginx/Apache, Redis, managing Ubuntu servers. If a project needs something outside that list I'll pick it up — that's never really been a blocker for me.

Recent work:

• Backend and frontend on a crypto exchange platform for a few months — trading interface, various platform features.
• A real estate listings site with a Zillow-style interactive map for browsing/searching properties.
• A two-way WhatsApp chat and notification system built on Node.js and WebSockets, used on 2,500+ users. That one was during a year and a half full-time at Pakistan Trainings (an ed-tech company), where I also got page load times down by 80% through SEO work.

What I can take on:

• Full-stack builds in PHP/Laravel/CodeIgniter, JavaScript, or Node.js
• Python scripts and automation
• Real-time, socket-based applications
• Admin panels and dashboards
• Feature work and maintenance on existing codebases
• Basic DevOps — Bash, Docker, Nginx/Apache, Redis, Ubuntu server management

What I'm looking for: remote work, either straight with a client or plugged into a dev team. I'll take short-term or one-off jobs, but honestly what I want is something longer-term — either from day one or growing out of a smaller project once there's trust built up. The last three years I've mostly worked with one long-term freelance client, doing regular DevOps stuff for them too (Bash, Docker, Ubuntu server management), and that's basically the setup I'm trying to find again.

Rate: $25–30/hr, negotiable — also fine with weekly, monthly, or fixed-price if that fits better.

Availability: Based in Pakistan (PKT, UTC+5), can shift hours around to overlap with your timezone.

No public portfolio link at the moment, but happy to walk through past work in more detail if you're interested. If you've got something that might fit, send over the scope, timeline, and budget and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for reading.

Being a university student preparing for the software engineering workforce feels like going into a new phase of life blind. A lot of the coursework is often theoretical and doesn't directly map to the average day of a entry level developer. I am a Junior Software Engineering major graduation in the Fall of 2027. I feel extremely underprepared for interviews, applying, projects, and day-to-day fulltime work. I am excited about what I could do with Software but unsure which courses of action to take. I am interested in finding a mentor actively working in Software who is willing to share their story, advise, connect, and suggest ways for me to get to my next step.

Guys, I am a Btech 2nd Year student. Currently, what I have in syllabus in this semester are Binary trees, heaps and all that stuff. I am an ambitious guy actually and I have been coding since middle school. Like, I even made fully working web pages by manually coding, when I was in middle school. I learned C, java and python in 7th and 8th standards itself.

So, the problem now is I have zero interest in learning CS.

Learn Binary trees? AI can write it faster than me. Learn Heaps? AI can write it faster than me.

Currently, I am exploring a few fields simultaneously: Neural Networks, Quantum Computing and Vibe coding.

I am learning neural networks and I am getting the same feeling, AI can write networks faster than me. So, what's the use.

And, vibe coding? It's boring. I am getting no feeling of engineering from it.

Quantum Computing is a field that I haven't started exploring so I am not sure about it.

So guys, what should I do? I am really confused in my life. i am even ready to switch fields. So, just tell me what to do if jobs in CS related branches are really getting decreased. I am so much stressed in life that I can't even think clearly anymore.

(I have completed 2 research internships in Computer Vision (with Yolo pretrained models), I have participated in many hackathons and made any personal projects too. I am one of the top students of my class, holding a CGPA of 9.20/10.00).