Career crossroads: background in product design and PM, drawn to homes, spaces, and hospitality. What field should I aim for?
Appreciate anyone who reads. Genuinely stuck and looking for outside perspective.
Background: I spent about 4 years at a small, growing startup. I started as a product design engineer (mechanical engineering background) and eventually became their Product Designer, though the title undersells it. I was doing product management, collaborating closely with engineering, shaping roadmaps, the works. Small team means wearing a lot of hats.
I left about a year ago due to a family situation that required relocation, and honestly, I had also fallen out of love with the company. Since then I've been job searching and trying to figure out my next move.
Initially I was targeting Product Manager roles, since that was the work I loved most. But after a year of searching with no traction, I'm at a crossroads: do I keep pushing for PM, or do I pivot?
The pivot I keep coming back to is anything related to homes, buildings, and spaces. I'm genuinely drawn to residential real estate, architecture, hospitality design, and hotels. Environments that are intentional about experience. I've been working on a product concept in the sculptural home goods space and have long-term ambitions to start a business around it. That said, I'm not in a financial position to pursue it full-time yet, so I need work that can sustain me, ideally something that would also remain valuable if the business idea doesn't pan out.
A few things I know about myself: I love thinking about product, experience, and business strategy rather than just aesthetics. Quality matters deeply to me — whatever I work on or build, I want it to be the best version of itself, made with the finest materials and finished to a high standard. I'm drawn to the luxury end of things, whether that's spaces, objects, or experiences. I'm not hands-on in a physical or trades sense; building and construction are not my thing. I love hosting, travel, and hotels, and there's something there I'd love to tap into professionally. Also, not in a position for more schooling.
My question for the community: given this background (mechanical engineering degree, product design, product management, small-company generalist experience), what fields or specific roles make sense for someone drawn to homes, buildings, and hospitality? And are there roles I could realistically land without starting from zero?
To give a fuller picture: I'm 28M, based in Southern California. Married and planning to start a family around 30, so this isn't just about finding work I enjoy. I need something with real stability and earning potential. That context is part of why I'm feeling the urgency to get this figured out now.
Appreciate any input, especially from people who've made similar pivots.