I write code in C# or C++ (but also Python, pipelines, scripts, JS, etc.) and it needs to be somewhat efficient. We all follow the same rules (62304 especially), we must write unit tests, and make sure that my features are properly integrated at all steps of the development up to the release, and even after when you must validate it with the authorities, when you have bugs, etc. If you're in a small company, everyone can be involved in all the processes and it's fun because you go much further than mere development (like preparing reports for various agencies all over the world, or helping PhDs integrate their code in the application).

We have commit hooks to check and format code, pipelines must be green. You cannot cheat because someone will find out. And you can’t pretend that your code worked once on your computer because the test team will refuse your code if it breaks anything. It’s more rigorous at all steps of the development.

Last but not least we have specifications for everything because it’s the law. Overall it’s what software engineering should have been all the time. It feels like working at NASA even if it's only a stupid desktop tool or application.

Of course everything is not perfect, you can stumble on assholes like every other company, but it's not everywhere. I’m happy to go to work every day, I may have saved a life or two with my code, and that's a good feeling.

My experience comes from having worked with the biggest assholes on the planet at different companies. To answer your question, I would say that an interesting job is rigorous, peaceful, and has some kind of meaning.

Edit: as another guy said, I too settled for lesser wage to work for a company that would not destroy my soul and spirit. That's important too.

More and more, I also build contacts in and around Berlin's government to effect change at a lower level, instead of building a nice layer on top of a crap bureaucracy.

It has been my full time job since 2020, and it's still going pretty solid. I absolutely love it, in part because the work itself is fun, and in part because I have a kind and grateful audience.

I describe the why and the how here: https://nicolasbouliane.com/projects/all-about-berlin

I’m the Director of IT Operations for a contract research organization (CRO). While that might not sound inherently interesting it’s deeply fulfilling. My role involves building and maintaining software that help facilitate critical research for NIH and NCI, often supporting breakthroughs in healthcare and science. I love the intersection of technology, problem-solving, and enabling teams to deliver life-changing results by helping change the standard of care for people affected by cancer.

Outside of work, I’m heavily involved with FIRST robotics, which is a worldwide competitive robotics program for high school age students. It’s an amazing initiative where students design, build, and program robots to compete in team-based challenges. And it’s very fun. I mentor students, guiding them through the technical challenges we come up against and help them discover their own potential. Watching young minds light up is very rewarding. Being a small part of that community is one of the most rewarding things I do.

For a while as a student I worked for a nursery that supplied plants to restaurants we would go to when they were vacuuming the floors and stuff. Pick up all the plants, take them outside for water and light for a couple hours, and set them back up. Just reminiscing about it last night at a dinner where they had poinsettias everywhere.

It's a tough job but somebody has to do it :)

Edit: Also when I was in college in north Florida, we used to drive rental cars back from points south where the popular destinations and resorts were. We would crowd into one car and head down to Tampa or Orlando and come back with half a dozen cars or more.