I'd consider an evangelist role, but this does require having a slightly raised profile in terms of speaking engagements, OSS code, and blog writing. But it's a

I'd consider an evangelist role, but this does require having a slightly raised profile in terms of speaking engagements, OSS code, and blog writing. But it's a good alternate path from day to day code writing. Also, I think there's a strong need in the industry or Product Managers and heads of Product who come from a development background. Many of the people currently doing Product Management just sort of fell into it via Sales or Customer Development roles. These individuals are not equipped with the technical knowledge to deliver quality software. If you ever want to start a company, a strong background in Product Management and a few successes under your belt will go a long way.