u/NaToKy24

Foil boat at 160 with ghee, finished at 205.

Smoked for about 6 hours at 250f.

Another appreciation post? Yes.

I just wanted to share my story with anyone feeling anxious about their 9-to-5 in the current software development industry.

I started DA in September as a side gig for extra income and a bit of a plan B. I poured my soul into my day job and worked 10-hour days, only to see my salary increase by 5% while my workload doubled. Most people jump ship to increase their salary, but the current job market made that harder than I expected.

Focusing on quality work at DA led me to more rewarding and higher-paying STEM projects. In November, I decided to go full-time on DA while also working on my side project (quant application). I only did this because I had solid savings and a frugal lifestyle — I wouldn't recommend quitting your job.

What I absolutely love about working at DA is the meritocracy. The higher the quality of your work, the higher the reward. Creating complex coding scenarios, doing deep analysis of models, and synthesizing results are all part of my daily routine, and I love it — far more than the repetitive politics and meetings at my old company.

I work about 20 hours per week and net $4–5k CAD per month, which is more than enough to sustain my lifestyle and leaves me plenty of time to focus on my quant project.

Thank you DA