[Jugurtha]

I don't think the obvious choice at a terrible swimming pool would be to give up on swimming; there may be other beautiful beaches out there.

You're experienced and you seem to already have identified what you don't like. Software is practically everywhere, and it doesn't engineer itself. The aspects you talk about relate to noise that has become intolerable and there are many sectors, especially when the stakes are real, that eschew this "nonsense".

Have you considered working at places that don't "identify" as "tech companies/software companies" but where software is very present? Industry/Manufacturing, construction, automotive, aerospace, energy, logistics/supply chain, etc... In other words, places where software is a leverage to something. This may help "root" what you do in the "real world".

All these need software and they need actual, tangible, results.

[megamix]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I think moving into companies where IT as cost function would be detrimental. Or do these have strong engineering culture? Reason I say that is because I used to have experience with online retail within - that was a pain! Always someone in a hurry to deliver the next feature.