These days I'm the only programmer at a none-tech company and it's glorious, I answer directly to the MD. I set my own schedules, timelines, I prioritise bugs

These days I'm the only programmer at a none-tech company and it's glorious, I answer directly to the MD. I set my own schedules, timelines, I prioritise bugs and maintenance and I handle buying anything we need as well having complete freedom in the technologies I choose to solve problems (currently moving to TypeScript for front end stuff for example) - his attitude is to hire good people across the business and then get out the way as much as possible. The boss sets overall goals and we agree together on what is achievable in a given time period. Honestly my job has made me remember what it was I loved about programming (solving real world problems that have a measurable impact). Even the fact I inherited the worst codebase I've ever seen doesn't get me down because my boss knows how bad it is (it's why he got rid of the outsourced company and hired a programmer in house) and I get to work on a bunch of cool problems (production scheduling in a varied environment, global logistics (we import from China and India), some C# stuff (production control), Android (inventory control, scanners)). I actually get to 5pm and want to keep working but the boss bollocks me if I stay late (even though he does most days). I'd have to be offered a spectacular pay rise to even consider working for a 'tech' company again.