If you're working with tech you like and you're earning a comfortable wage, I would say to carry on as long as you like, especially with an unstressed working e

If you're working with tech you like and you're earning a comfortable wage, I would say to carry on as long as you like, especially with an unstressed working environment. The trouble, and you seem to be very aware of it, is that everything could change at the drop of a hat - if the deal finally falls through or the costs spiral out of control, you could wind up in a nightmare. Keep options open. If you're working with good tech (which from the sounds of the software you're writing, you are), then the skills are transferrable and you ought to be able to move to a new job with little warning. As for the resume, it's great to see a respectable length of time at the same firm (because it shows dedication), and whether or not the project ever came to fruition is irrelevant to a new employer - that's on the people (person) above you. You're the person building it, you know the code and the tech, you're the one who makes things work. That's what to emphasise in your job search. I can totally understand your desire to remain in a non-stressed work environment, but it would be worth worrying just a little about your future and keeping a close eye on the market. Always keep something available. As much as you may feel loyalty to your current boss, you have to be responsible for your own career and personal state, and if (or when) everything comes crashing down, you can tell him you appreciated the opportunity he gave you, but you must look out for yourself. Don't let him drag you down with him; if his business decisions turn out to be wrong, it's his responsibility, not yours. At the same time, you can try to have a serious conversation about his approach. Lay out your concerns that you, as the author of this project, are not going to see your efforts bear fruit if the customer bails or he drastically underprices it; it begs the question, if he's priced it so low, what source of income is he using to pay you? Personal funds? Those will run out eventually. Tell him that if his business is to have hope of turning a profit, he needs to charge realistic amounts, especially if the customer can be pursuaded to pay more. After all, some businesses (particularly in the financial sector) will stick to a 'get what you pay for' mindset, and will not be convinced to buy a cheap system no matter how fancy the features are, because they will see it as low quality or unsupportable (the latter is a good possibility when they realise what they actually do need). In short, try to get your boss to see sense, but carry on as long as you're comfortable, and be ready to change jobs if the wheels start coming off.