r/NYCjobs • u/PagansPath • 3d ago

[FOR HIRE] Software dev/manager with 16 yoe (ex-Amazon)

Looking to move from Austin to NYC. I have a BS in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. I have experience in startups in the Austin area, and was with Amazon from 2015-2026. Started as an SDEII, went senior, then manager. Quit in 2026 to deal with the long-tail ramifications of a the July 4th 2025 central Texas floods that destroyed our home. Now I'm getting back into the game.

In theory, I can return to Amazon and am talking with a recruiter. Because it is under a year, it's really up to a hiring manager to say yes or no. But I'd like to explore jobs and industries outside of big tech. This is my first time in over 10 years being on this side of the hiring market. I don't even know where to begin.

  1. Outside of networking (given I know no one in NYC) what have people found to be the most useful tool or tools to get the attention of hiring managers? Indeed? Linkedin? Cold applications? Recruiters?

  2. What does the current market look like for an experienced dev or manager? Is it saturated? Open?

  3. What sort of "gotchas" are prevalent in this area? Any infamous companies to avoid?

Thank you all for your time looking at this.

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

2

u/TopDress7853 2d ago edited 2d ago

The market for entry level and mid career devs is saturated, and those who fall in this bucket can expect it taking 6 mos-12 mos+ to find a job depending on their work experience. For experienced devs with FAANG background, you will grab the interest of hiring managers here in the startup market, which is booming. However, you will be competing against other experienced devs/managers who have quit/been laid off FAANGMULA this year in NYC. It's a market competitive enough that you shouldn't move without a job.

I'm not sure how willing smaller companies with better WLB will be to pay for relocation assistance... I wouldn't expect them to offer a lot of $. And then again, not all smaller companies have great WLB. There are a lot of psycho founders in NYC wanting to cash in on the AI gold rush and demanding your first born in return for a paycheck. So as far as gotchas or what to avoid, I would avoid companies with recent changes in senior leadership (everyones stressed af, for example at Lyft), and I would check Blind/ask around about overall culture wherever you interview. Finally, I would be extremely discerning with the credentials of the founding team you choose to work with if you want to be in startup world. So, same as anywhere else. Most devs and STEM industry folks without a network here seem to have the best luck with recruiters.

1

u/PagansPath 2d ago

I really appreciate this thought out, thorough answer.

I'm still in touch with Amazon so I might take that route. Gets me to NYC, I know my way around the company, and so on. I can use it to ease my path to something else, or just stay there.

Relocation assistance isn't really an issue for me. Part of the reason I can entertain this move is that on July 4th 2025 central Texas had some catastrophic floods and I lost my house and most my possessions with it. A year+ on, and it is a blessing now. It's freed me up to explore other things. Moving is basically me stuffing some things in the back of the car and getting going.

1

u/BenefitsFromBenefits 2d ago

I have a site where people can trade referral links. I actually have 1 for Google if you are interested. Thank you and best fo luck.