[mooreds]

Have you explored options within your current company, or companies where former co-workers work? In my experience, the former is the easiest way to make a career shift, because they already know you. The latter is second best because they knew you. This has worked for me in the past.

Other things I would suggest (all assume you still have a job and can play the long game):

- start blogging with a focus on where you want to be (engineering? That's a broad topic). Niche down. Is there a domain or tech that you want to work with?

- pick an open source project and start contributing. Docs are a great place to start.

- take a moonlighting gig or a week off and code something. You may be looking back with rose colored glasses. Coding is great, but nothing is without its warts.