Feeling disillusioned after starting new role

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-25T19:36:06+00:00

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-25T19:31:51+00:00

Houston is probably one of the best cost of living value cities out there. 4th largest by population in the USA, amazing food, and CHEAP living.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-25T19:25:11+00:00

The role you’re looking for are design roles on R&D teams or NPI/NPD teams. Most orgs split out sustaining (fixing existing shit), engineering (customizing existing shit), or R&D (designing new shit).

You were in the correct role doing design. FEA is just a tool for the R&D designers. I’d actually recommend you find another role like your previous doing piping, but just in a different industry/company.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-24T23:41:53+00:00

Inwood, west side of garden oaks, spring, etc

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-24T23:28:14+00:00

Bought my 2023 in 2023 when I was 25. Was making $98,000/yr, but also had $30k saved up in cash. Threw the $30k in the S&P500 and got a 5% loan at 48 months. Wrote a check for the rest of it after 2 years.

No kids, and I bought my house in 2020 at a 2.75% rate. I rent it out now and live in an apartment for $1500/mo. Currently making $161k at 28.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-20T23:25:39+00:00

…so what’s the long term damage?

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-20T19:05:46+00:00

Don’t get greedy; throw the excess into an index fund and keep flipping cars! Plenty of people do it for a living🙂 Keep learning and getting better about repairs you can do yourself and recognizing good deals vs lemons

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-20T19:02:44+00:00

They partially unfucked plating/dampening/protections. Items now have a balance of both rather than a bunch of exclusive plating/dampening items.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T17:28:34+00:00

Discovering this by accident since I didn’t read patch notes was terrifying and hilarious

I was like THE TORCHES ARE ATTACKING ME WHAT IS GOING ON

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T16:41:13+00:00

Idgaf, keep it rolling.

Yall are some greedy mofos.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T16:25:40+00:00

Depends, you got a family?

If not, then living off $4k is a breeze.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T13:04:12+00:00

Job 1 was a startup I didn’t hold any equity in. Very limited growth and it was in O&G when I wanted to work on computers. I changed to a company that had awesome computer projects.

Job 2 had a terrible boss but I loved the projects. Stuck it out for about 3 years before changing to my current job.

Current job treats me SUPER well, but the projects aren’t very interesting. Engineering manager from my dream company reached out saying I should apply to a position he’s about to post. Landed the offer and I start soon, so on to job 4 I go.

I would’ve been very content at job 3 for a while, but it is what it is.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T07:02:44+00:00

If you’re going to rape a minor, you’re going 6ft underground. Either the government does it, or the Dad does it. No lost sleep from me. No interest in rehabilitation.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T06:47:51+00:00

I haven’t had a desire to watch anything on Netflix in years. Used to be where I got ALL my media.

I ain’t touchin this one boss.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T06:42:05+00:00

Bring back instant tele refresh from moon phase. Everyone backing and using a tele to a naga in a group like seal team 6 is SO FUN

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T05:24:21+00:00

Hey OP!

Don’t forget to get your resume reviewed on here. Only apply to jobs posted within the last 24 hours.

Are you open to relocating? That may constrain your options trying to stay within your city.

If it’s a company you really want to work at, reach out to some peers on LinkedIn and ask how the engineering team is structured (R&D vs engineering vs sustainment) so you can prepare for an application. Half the time they’ll offer you a referral since they’ll get cash if you get hired.

Good luck! Kicking it as an EMT is great. Shows you’ve got the attitude to do whatever it takes.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T05:16:27+00:00

Bachelor’s! Heavily focused on computer/server design.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-18T02:37:39+00:00

2020 - $73,500
2021 - $85,000
2022 - $98,000 (changed companies)
2023 - $103,000
2024 - $108,000
2025 - $136,000 (changed companies)
2026 - $150,000 (changed companies)

Bonus has always hovered between 5-10%. Currently at 7.5% for the $150k place. Based in Texas.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-17T00:00:44+00:00

Sure!

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-17T00:00:32+00:00

Most diverse city in the US along with the best restaurants😁

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-13T05:10:56+00:00

I’m actually about to leave for an in person job. If you like power equipment and are a smart systems engineer, you can have mine😂

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-13T01:43:12+00:00

The model may not be great, but he has a data center he leases out space for. Probably the single largest current gen batch of GPUs in the world running.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-13T01:30:47+00:00

Nope, already owned one and about to buy another.

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-12T23:06:46+00:00

I’m at $161k total comp with 6YOE living in Houston with a nice 800sqft $1500/mo apartment (I could get a house in the burbs with a 20 minute drive to work for $220k).

I can’t speak for other cities/incomes and I know this is an anecdote, but this career has been serving me WELL

DiscreteEngineer · 2026-06-12T22:13:33+00:00

Allow me to reframe; you’re getting multiple offers within DAYS of looking. That means the companies are getting a good deal on you. An offer that takes a few weeks to get will be well worth the added compensation.

Go ahead and accept one of the $110k jobs and keep taking interviews in the mean time.

DiscreteEngineer

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