I have hopped between three companies and two different industries. I think in majority of cases, I have been acknowledged to be incredibly talented both techn

I have hopped between three companies and two different industries. I think in majority of cases, I have been acknowledged to be incredibly talented both technically and practically. As for myself, I know I studied hard enough and solved some pretty difficult problems to be quite competent at whatever is thrown at me. And similar to your case, I have also sought challenging work where I could be utilized 100%. But I have convinced myself that such environments don't exist. Why? Because there are two ways to tackle every problem: the simple but laborious way OR the complex but quicker way. How you perceive your work is up to you. You can see it as challenging and breaking new boundaries and work in similar manner to solve those challenges or you can see it as simple and boring and "ask for the solution to a similar problem." For example, my first project had a highly revered boss who made me think that the project I was working on was significant and amazing. When he was assigned a second project, I was not going to come along, but the way he described it to other people made it seem the second project was just as challenging. In a turn of events, his assignment changed and I took on the assignment instead. I found it to be very simple and mundane. I learned at that point, the challenge in a project is the challenge you highlight and the challenge you CHOOSE to tackle. Every project has challenges and every project has its ups and downs. How you perceive a project is up to you.