There absolutely are remote first roles in the US, but the competition is also extremely intense. The median SWE and HNer wouldn't make the cut. It also requir

There absolutely are remote first roles in the US, but the competition is also extremely intense. The median SWE and HNer wouldn't make the cut. It also requires a level of maturity, clear thinking, self-starterness, and independence that is hard to come by without a proven track record and experience. My advice is for the median/average SWE and HNer, not for the truly exceptional. Spending a 7-10 years in a hub and then going remote first is the best path because you build the network you need to get referrals to vouch for you as a remote-first hire well as the track record needed to go remote-first.