Earlier this year, I left my not-so-high-paying job at a large corporation to work on some ideas that didn't pan out. It wasn't the most airtight idea, but I was way too burned out to care. Regardless, bills have to be paid, obligations met, etc.
As far as experience goes, I have given 11 years to IT, mainly as a sysadmin shepherding Linux and FreeBSD servers. I don't really consider myself a developer, but I've had to "get shit done" in the past. I've worked up and down the stack over the years on projects ranging from lone, multipurposed (L|B)AMP servers to large scale server farms. I've carried the pager, been involved in the "worst case scenario" many times.
As far as open source goes, I contribute back to FreeBSD, albeit in a small capacity by maintaining some ports I use or know well. I have contributed small code snippets to a few old open source projects in the past that have since fallen out of development, but no major code contributions.
I think joining a smaller company is where I want to be, I've been employee #1 and remember some of the numerous hats I had to wear. I have also worked for some more well-known companies. I'd like to start my own company at some point, but I think I need more experience with like-minded individuals, and not just being a cog in the corporate behemoth.
So, I ask, please help me out? I've been slowly burning through my cash reserves, but it's time I stop banging rocks together and re-enter the land of employment. I don't have any industry connections, or I'd hit them up before posting to a community such as this. I'm presently in the Austin area, but all I'm getting are headhunters looking for a 3-6 month contract in another state for $12-$15/hr. Anywhere I go, my SO is coming with me. She has over 15 years of customer service experience and hasn't been able to find a job that doesn't pay $12/hr or less.
I'm open to relocating pretty much anywhere in the US, but I do need to move pretty fast. Please respond here or email me at throwawayhn@gmail.com if you can help me out.
