[silverquiet]

I don't know how anyone was ever all that engaged at large IT/Software companies - I always got the feeling I was working with a bunch of overly enthusiastic children lead by psychopaths who would cut up their families for the organs or whatever if they thought it would help them fulfill whatever their current ambition was.

I now work at a really small company lead by people who seem genuine (they've managed to at least keep up the act for a few years I suppose). It doesn't pay particularly well (though not bad for where I live either), and there's no "growth" potential (I learn lots of new stuff, but the money isn't going to double or triple or anything like that). No ads or hyperscaling - we just make a product that people are willing to pay money for. I'm as engaged as I've ever been for an employer.