How to work in software, outdoors?

November 6, 2009 2:11 PM

What kinds of jobs exist for software engineers who want to work outdoors? Rain, wind, sunshine, sleet, yes please!!

I have about 10 years experience as a professional software engineer, mostly working for large companies and a bit as a contractor too. I enjoy it, and I always get good reports from clients and colleagues. But the desk/office lifestyle is getting me down, and I'd love to work outdoors.

Without abandoning the skills and salary that I've built up over the years, what kind of job could I get that would see me working outside for a considerable part of my time? I'm thinking of a minimum of one whole day outside every week, preferably more.

I really don't want to give up the software design aspect of my job, these are the problems that I love solving. But I suppose I could do without the actual programming part of it, so technical architect would be a nice job - if I could do it outside. Help me brainstorm this one, mefites!

posted by mjg123 to work & money (10 comments total)

"Get a job where you can work from home and sit in the garden all day" is an acceptable answer but I would prefer ideas where the nature of the job mandates that it be done outside.
posted by mjg123 at 2:14 PM on November 6, 2009

My buddy got at this in the other direction, starting in forestry and needing to learn programming for GIS. Might be worth looking into.
posted by craven_morhead at 2:18 PM on November 6, 2009

I worked at a company that made underwater robots. Software testing took place on a boat out on the water. Sometimes it was a beautiful day. Sometimes it was winter in Boston. If you are willing to fix code in cold sleet and high seas, you're in high demand.

I can't tell where you live but your posting history suggests maybe the UK? Investigate QinetiQ and Thales.
posted by olinerd at 2:22 PM on November 6, 2009

I got to go outside when I was programming forestry software for my master's degree. Not as much as once a week, though.
posted by zsazsa at 2:31 PM on November 6, 2009

Any surveying (Leica, Topcon), mining (CAT, Komatsu, P&H), ag automation (Trimble, John Deere) or other GIS-based data aggregator will need this. I worked for one of the companies listed for quite some time and you definitely get to do things like tear across frozen potato fields the wrong way in Quadtracs. Mining isn't very pretty, and farms are easiest to work if they're flat so pick your environment, then figure out what goes on there.
posted by jet_silver at 2:34 PM on November 6, 2009

It's not quite 'outside', but Microsoft had testing positions open once for their MS automobile software. It involved testing the speedometer and mileage/KM gauge, and that involved driving. A lot.

Also, thank you for asking this; I am facing the exact same dilemma, and I have nearly the exact same history.
posted by spinifex23 at 2:45 PM on November 6, 2009

I can't think of any software *design* jobs that aren't best done in a windowless ivory basement. Your best bet is to get on the sales/support team of an industry that does stuff outside (energy or transportation come to mind) and get on the business end of some field trips.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:28 PM on November 6, 2009

I'm afraid I can't add to the suggestions here, but I have to say: "Ivory basement" is my new favorite programming-related metaphor -- thank you from the bottom of my basement.
posted by usonian at 5:44 PM on November 6, 2009

Modular Mining Systems uses software engineers to install and maintain their systems. Part of the job is working at the mining sites for a six weeks or so a couple times a year. The rest of the time is spent working inside. It may not the type of outdoor work that you want as most of the mines are in remote areas around the world and the time that you get to spend outside would be at a large mining site which are not the most scenic places.
posted by calumet43 at 8:02 PM on November 6, 2009

WHOI or some place like it?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:54 AM on November 7, 2009