> If you're at a place run by a bunch of clueless MBAs that don't understand the value of their in-house engineers you just don't have a good (or reliable) job.

> If you're at a place run by a bunch of clueless MBAs that don't understand the value of their in-house engineers you just don't have a good (or reliable) job. That is exactly Patricks point. If you can explain to those MBAs how you make $N for the company, then your job (as long as your job costs less than $N) is safe because you're now a profit centre. You will then have turned those clueless MBAs into bosses who understands and values programmers.