As others have pointed out, the software department is overbooked. And acquiring companies always underestimate the cost to clean up and integrate the software

As others have pointed out, the software department is overbooked. And acquiring companies always underestimate the cost to clean up and integrate the software of the acquired company. Try to get yourself transferred into the silo'd department if possible. You're not going to change corporate life. If you can stand corporate life, you might as well move into the most valued department that you can get into. If you can't stand corporate life, well, your options are the same either way. But you can use the transfer as a way to evaluate and update your skills.