Hi Throwawaypotato, I was in a similar position. Non-software company, basically one of two developers in a group whose focus was business. We would occasional

Hi Throwawaypotato, I was in a similar position. Non-software company, basically one of two developers in a group whose focus was business. We would occasionally interact with other software teams in other departments to integrate our systems, and I would cherish those moments; but it was clear that across the organization overall view of software was that of a necessary evil. I tried to convince the group about taking a new approach to how we developed software, to perhaps have more communication between the sparsely distributed software team, I even made a presentation over software processes, how we could improve... nothing ever changed anything. All they really cared was that we made the wishes of the sales team real... After a year of firefighting, dealing with poor processes, and feeling overall undervalued I resigned to resume my PhD. My advice is that you change to a software company, and in general that you join a company where your role is a first class citizen (I've heard similar complains of friends who are, in say, a finance position within a structural engineering firm). On the other hand, I left with a strong impression that these type of non-software or software adverse companies are great candidates for companies to either sell services or to directly compete against with more efficient services... perhaps a route I'll one day take. Cheers!