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You aren't involved in the design or architecture (that is done several levels above you by "System Engineers"), you are given a highly detailed spec (som

You aren't involved in the design or architecture (that is done several levels above you by "System Engineers"), you are given a highly detailed spec (sometimes so detailed it amounts to pseudo-code) that really doesn't allow any room for creative problem solving. Maybe there is something wrong with me, but it sounds amazing. Compared to “Agile Enterprise Software Development” I have to do now, where specs are non-existent, and developers are also architects, QA, DevOps, and managers, the job that you've described is Heaven.

nostrademons 8y ago
Why not swap jobs? Your pitch to the aerospace company is "I've got extensive experience in software development, but I'd like to work in a more rigorous environment with people who have extensive experience in solid engineering practices, and apply my skills to safety-critical problems that will affect millions of people." I did an internship in college at a company that wrote avionics software, and it taught me that I didn't really want to do that. My job is actually a step beyond "agile enterprise software development" in ambiguity - I'm a founder, which means that not only are my specs non-existent, but my product, customers, and business model are too, and my job description also includes customer development, sales, marketing, interaction & visual design, and enough legal to avoid completely fucking things up. But I've found that I like the highly ambiguous environment where nothing's nailed down and everything's a problem that needs to be solved in a hacky way yesterday. Luckily the economy is broad enough that people can move around to the work that suits them best. Take advantage of that - if you find you really don't like a sort of work, do something else!
- ainar-g 8y ago
  I probably would if I was a US or EU citizen. I live in Russia, and our aerospace industry… has issues, to say the least, and I've heard that US companies tend to be vary of Russian nationals. Thanks for the advice though, and good luck with your enterprise!
- anitil 8y ago
  > not only are my specs non-existent, but my product, customers, and business model are too This gave me a good chuckle!

nostrademons 8y ago

Why not swap jobs? Your pitch to the aerospace company is "I've got extensive experience in software development, but I'd like to work in a more rigorous environment with people who have extensive experience in solid engineering practices, and apply my skills to safety-critical problems that will affect millions of people." I did an internship in college at a company that wrote avionics software, and it taught me that I didn't really want to do that. My job is actually a step beyond "agile enterprise software development" in ambiguity - I'm a founder, which means that not only are my specs non-existent, but my product, customers, and business model are too, and my job description also includes customer development, sales, marketing, interaction & visual design, and enough legal to avoid completely fucking things up. But I've found that I like the highly ambiguous environment where nothing's nailed down and everything's a problem that needs to be solved in a hacky way yesterday. Luckily the economy is broad enough that people can move around to the work that suits them best. Take advantage of that - if you find you really don't like a sort of work, do something else!

ainar-g 8y ago
I probably would if I was a US or EU citizen. I live in Russia, and our aerospace industry… has issues, to say the least, and I've heard that US companies tend to be vary of Russian nationals. Thanks for the advice though, and good luck with your enterprise!
anitil 8y ago
> not only are my specs non-existent, but my product, customers, and business model are too This gave me a good chuckle!