[dingusthemingus]

I think if you are going to start as a software dev in a role where you wont be interacting with management or clients, your stellar business experience wont be utilized, and you would be downgrading your career tragectory,

If you are able to secure a software dev job with mostly management - interacting with clients or VPs and management - you will be able to utilize your previous busienss experience. I'm not exactly sure what type of role that is, so thats something you will have to explore further, but im sure there are roles that fall into this category.

A lot of the IT consulting firms need good engineers who will interact with client dev leadership/client business leadership, that sounds like a role that might be a good fit, but the IT consulting firms really need good people who are willing to work their tails off in those roles if you are up for it.