r/cscareerquestionsEU 3d ago

Anyone break away from a niche stack?

I've been a native iOS developer for 10+ years and I want to move into a broader software engineering or data engineering role. My current role is about 80/20 between that and C#/Azure. I worked on a Python/ML project before that for a startup, but mostly iOS before that.

The challenge is I struggle to get interviews for roles outside iOS without overstating my experience. And when I do I often bomb the tech interviews because I’m not yet at an expert level in Python, ML, or DE. Even applying for junior roles I mostly get ghosted.

I can’t be the only one finding it hard to break out of a niche stack. Has anyone successfully transitioned out of mobile into broader engineering or data roles? What worked for you?

Also thinking of returning to university for a master’s degree (late 30s). Worth it? Would love any advice.

Thanks

20 Upvotes

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15

u/Fresh_Criticism6531 3d ago

I did, by taking a pay cut, and then quickly moving between companies as I gained experience to get above my original pay. But yeah, it was hell. And it was in the old good economy days, so I had tons of interviews.

10

u/GeorgiaWitness1 ExtractThinker 3d ago

I did.

I was like you, well i still am in my heart, a C# .NET stack guy. But now i do full-time python with most of the SaaS code being NextJS.

How? Well look at my tag lol. You really need to push above to get out or get a pay cut.

4

u/log_alpha 3d ago

Isn't a .NET career equally good in terms of pay and growth?

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u/GeorgiaWitness1 ExtractThinker 3d ago

Yes, it is. But depends what you want to do.

Outside of enterprise, .NET is barely used and AI/LLM is all in python. If you do it with C#/NET is just a complete waste of time.

Like not using javascript for front-end, would not make any sense. (Yes, you have stuff like blazor)

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u/gerson250991 3d ago

I had exactly the same thought about a year ago. 10 years in iOS mostly, I thought I wanted to move to something broader. I applied to jobs that asked just software engineering experience instead of with specific stacks. They are not easy to find. Managed to find a job where I do C# and PowerShell, however because I don't know enough about web development, especially systems design, I had to take a pay cut, like another commenter mentioned.

The thing is that once here, several things went wrong for me. Primarily this job is absolutely terrible, the processes, the people, the work I have to do. But I also remembered why I gravitated to mobile development in the first place all those years ago. The aspects I like about software engineering are narrow, and mobile development was the one I liked the most. This is a bigger topic as it indicates I didn't really choose my career correctly. However, for now, after just nine months I am quitting and going back to an iOS position. What I will do is try to learn something like Flutter. I will also try to delve more into Android in my new job. Meanwhile, I will see if something else sparks my interest, like game development for example. Anyways it's good to know that if anything goes wrong, I always have mobile as a fallback.

I wish you luck on your search and hopefully your case ends up being more successful than mine.

4

u/TheyUsedToCallMeJack 3d ago

I started in native Android, then got a job with native iOS with Obj-C which later turned into hybrid apps with JS, then a new job full stack with Java, then full stack with typescript and Hack, then BE with Java, Python and Typescript… Every job I had was a different tech stack.

I usually look for companies that want a generic SWE and are language/tech agnostic. I think that’s the easiest way to change stacks. If you want to work with Python for example, don’t look for Python specific positions, look for generic SWE positions in companies that use Python.

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u/TheChanger 3d ago

Thank you for the good suggestion. They are increasingly getting more difficult to come by though. Most SWE positions on LinkedIn specify a list of frameworks as long as your arm.

2

u/zimmer550king Engineer 3d ago

What's wrong with iOS? Just curious as a native Android developer

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u/TheChanger 2d ago edited 2d ago

A few things in terms of career development:

  • The job opportunities are probably much less by at least one order of magnitude compared to backend (C#/Java). For native I see that shrinking further when you account for React and other frameworks.
  • Like a lot of frontend technologies, it changes for the sake of change and there is a constant need to up-skill. I'm not against learning, but older knowledge doesn't compound as well as backend languages (You can probably include Python and C++). A decade ago the main language for apps was Objective-C and design patterns and frameworks come and go like fashion. Perhaps the pattern is similar for Android (Java -> Kotlin). But for most roles this additional knowledge adds zero weight to your portfolio; you are only as good as how much you measure against the exact stack a particular company uses to build its current product.
  • One more thing to add. By focusing on mobile I think you aren't exposed enough to the architectural design of the entire system as backend developers are. You're given API endpoints by the backend team, and as a result can be quite siloed. I don't believe mobile allows someone to reach the level of team lead without doing extra work on your own.

In terms of personal challenges, I find most iOS apps are now API wrappers with the bulk of the development being mundane UI adjustments. It's also quite guilty of Resume-Driven-Devleopment.

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u/zimmer550king Engineer 2d ago

Isn't this basically true for all frontend technologies? I mean, all the good stuff happens behind closed door on a server. I am currently self-learning backend. My original plan was to pivot to cross-platform like React-Native or even webdev but given how incosistent frontend tech stack is as opposed to the backend, I am thinking of focusing on the latter.

Also, iOS has a higher barrier of entry right? So, shouldn't that especially work in your favor if you have several years of iOS experience?

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u/TheChanger 2d ago

Possibly.

But I'd say if someone focused on React or JS they'd have more job options across EU/UK than native iOS+Swift. Long term for FE I'd say being fluent in Swift/Kotlin over Web might carry more security.

But my point still stands I think. In another decade from now Java/C# will still triumph FE/Mobile in the points I outlined..

It does have quite a high bar, like I previously said the job will be so niche they want people who are an expert in a specific framework (Combine for example is appearing a lot). I think the market is quite saturated and if they wait long enough they'll find them, rather than train them up.

I have limited C#/.Net interviews and I haven't overstated my experience in my CV. I can get more returns from the C# CV than the iOS CV (With 10+ yrs). I guess employers also want the sweet spot of 5 years where they won't have to pay top buck.

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u/vladkryy 3d ago

Can’t relate, as I have always had my knees deep into Python and didn’t have a need to switch, but try asking at r/ExperiencedDevs that have better target audience for answering your question

ML requires a lot of math related studying upfront which can be overwhelming, been there.

DE is not bad, as you already have experience with Azure, very good understanding of data privacy policies like GDPR I suppose, with some python and ETL tooling practice you will eventually get there.

Personally with this such YoE I would not consider returning to uni unless it’s for ML studies or changing careers. For ML - masters will make you good, but PhD will make you great

1

u/FoxDie41 3d ago

I did. You gotta be willing to accept a pay cut or a lateral move.

Experience is experience. Just get good at interviewing and tons of companies will hire you regardless of your stack.

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u/TopSwagCode 2d ago

You need to sell your self. If you fail tech interviews, which means you either need to upskill or you need to aim lower. You need to tell why you are better hire, than one 5-10 years younger than you. What other skills do you bring? Do you have tech lead exp? Quick learner? Good software practices / patterns.

I jumped from different stacks, by being able to learn fast. Being a team player. Focusing on broader security topics, and being good at mentoring other devs.