I can't help you out with many connections, all the people I know are barley getting started with their careers, but there are tons of startups and tech compani

I can't help you out with many connections, all the people I know are barley getting started with their careers, but there are tons of startups and tech companies in the Austin and Houston area. One of my good friends started working as an engineer for Texas Instruments (in Dallas) and loved it until he had offer he couldn't refuse from a Silicon Valley company and moved out to California.