There aren't any serious efforts to colonize Mars, and I don't think there's any special need for software developers. Your options to be involved even tangenti

There aren't any serious efforts to colonize Mars, and I don't think there's any special need for software developers. Your options to be involved even tangentially are pretty slim. If you want to be associated, your only serious options are a national space agency (NASA, ESA, or one of the few other spacefaring nations), or the few commercial space companies, with SpaceX being the only one that's expressed any interest in Mars. I've indirectly worked for NASA a few times, through university-run, NASA-funded programs (Mars rovers and orbiters, and some other planetary missions). It's interesting work, and I felt like I was contributing in a small way. I'd encourage anyone with an interest to get involved in that way. I can't say I felt like I was important at all, but it was more rewarding than working on Wall Street (except financially).