Now, you could argue that employers just need a certain skillset at this point of the market cycle, but the article implies a theme is emerging.

Anyhoo, I am not in SV, or USA, but I am in my second demi-century and spec and write specialist safety software and systems to international performance based standards, eg burner controls right now.

I have worked on contract all my working life, and I often wonder when my time will come.

But my fortunate reality is that the skill set needed is so broad and certification requires maybe a decade minimum of supervised work component, probably engineers in this game don't really hit their straps before 40, minimum.

But you never know when the rules change...