From Software Engineering to Climate Tech: Why I'm Reorienting My Career Toward the Planet

When I first started coding, all I wanted was to build things that were both beautiful and useful. I never expected that years later I would be spending my weekends with muddy boots and a field guide to wetland plants, unsure where exactly it would all lead, but feeling like I was finally following something real.

I still write JavaScript, and I still spend weeknights debugging Next.js errors. But gradually, and with a lot of soul-searching, I've started to shift direction. I am applying the skills I developed in software engineering to something that now feels more urgent, finding ways to use technology to benefit our planet.

If you have been feeling a similar pull but are not ready to give up your tech career entirely, this might speak to you.

Why I'm Changing Course Toward Ecological Work

At first, I did not even have a name for what I was feeling. It was not burnout, exactly, it was misalignment.

I was working at a tech startup in London when the pandemic hit, and everything shifted. Like a lot of people, I started questioning what I was doing and why. I wanted to work on something that felt meaningful, something that would still matter in ten years.

I moved back to the United States, and after some trial and error, I found a job at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, and began a graduate degree in environmental science at Johns Hopkins. We studied carbon sinks, wetlands, and the role of soil bacteria in ecological restoration. During the day I was debugging CI pipelines. At night I was reading about how forests breathe.

Where Tech Met Climate for Me

While working at the Applied Physics Lab, I supported a team that was using AI to model the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, a massive oceanic current system that helps regulate global climate.

Being close to work with that level of ecological impact shifted my entire perspective. I realized I did not need to abandon everything I had built in my tech career. I could bring it with me and apply it somewhere more meaningful.

Why I Moved to France as Part of the Shift

Another major change came when I recently relocated to France. It was not just about the scenery or quality of life, although those are real. It was about aligning my daily life with my long-term values.

France is quietly becoming a hub for green technology. There is growing investment in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and climate innovation. It feels amazing to be in a place where the government is prioritizing ecological work and the people are supportive of it. Here, there is no debate about whether we should be concerned about climate change.

Blending My Passion for Nature Into My Work

I have always felt most alive when I am outdoors. Hiking and backpacking are not just hobbies for me. They are how I stay grounded and present.

I realized I wanted that connection to the natural world to be part of my everyday life, not something I squeezed into weekends. I wanted my work to reflect that too.

What I'm Doing Now to Make the Transition

I do not have it all figured out. There are days I wonder if I am just drifting. But I keep coming back to this path, because something in it feels more honest than what I left behind. I may not have a perfect plan, but I am learning to trust the direction.

Learning the Science

I took graduate-level courses in environmental science and engineering from Johns Hopkins. While I do not plan to finish that program as it would require spending another year in the United States, it laid a strong foundation in climate systems, carbon sinks, and ecological restoration.

Choosing not to complete the degree was not an easy decision. But ultimately, it was more important to me to move to Europe and begin building a life aligned with my values than to spend another year in a country I no longer felt at home in. That choice gave me momentum and opened the door to opportunities here in France that would not have waited.

Since then, I have applied to several master's programs in ecology in France. These programs are significantly more affordable than those in the United States, and many are taught in English.

Continuing Work as a Full-Stack Developer

I still work as a full-stack dev, and I am using my existing skills to build out a career here in France as a freelancer. Freelancing has given me the time and flexibility to explore my new interests while providing the financial stability that supports the transition. Right now, I am still getting my footing in the freelance world, however my plan once I have a few more clients is to take a step back from full-stack development and focus on building out my network in the green tech space.

What Has Been Difficult About This Shift

The Pay Difference

Let's be honest. Chasing your passion is not always financially sustainable, and in all of this moving around, I have had to take a lot of pay cuts. Yet I believe that the life that I'm building is worth it, and so far that has been the case. Moving to France has made me happier, healthier, and more fulfilled than I have been in years.

The Bureaucracy

Visas, paperwork, and administrative processes are part of the reality. Changing careers is already challenging. Doing it across countries adds a whole new layer of complexity.

The Learning Curve

Environmental science is rigorous. It draws from chemistry, physics, policy, and systems theory. There is a constant stream of acronyms and new concepts. Becoming a beginner again has been humbling, but also surprisingly fulfilling.

Advice for Tech Workers Considering a Climate Pivot

If you are dreaming of fieldwork, hoping to build climate tools, or simply craving more meaning in your work, here are a few things that have helped me, along with a few I wish I had known earlier.

1. You Are Already Useful

You do not need a PhD to contribute meaningfully. Your technical skills are valuable in this space. Think data analysis, backend systems, machine learning, app development, and geographic information systems. Start with what you already know.

2. Learn in Public

Document your learning. Share articles and papers. Build small tools. Create open datasets. Write blog posts or post updates about what you are learning. Visibility helps you find your people and opens new doors.

3. Follow What Energizes You

If something sparks your curiosity, whether it is forest regeneration, ocean modeling, or urban planning, lean into that. The energy you bring will carry you through the hard parts and help you build real expertise over time.

4. Find a Community

Look into these groups:

• Work on Climate
• Climatebase
• Terra.do
• My Climate Journey

These are filled with generous people who care about building a better future. You do not have to figure it out alone.

5. Reach Out to Researchers

Academic labs and research institutions often need technical help but lack in-house engineering skills. A thoughtful email can go a long way. Ask good questions and offer to collaborate. When I was first beginning to pivot towards the hard sciences, I cold emailed a research lab in Washington D.C., and they were happy to bring me on as a bioinformatics research assistant.

6. Apply to Research and NGO Roles

Universities, think tanks, and environmental nonprofits are hiring software engineers to support research and infrastructure. Even if you feel underqualified, apply. Mission alignment often matters more than having a perfect resume.

7. Relocate to a Green Tech Hub, If Possible

Cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Paris, Lyon, London, and Vancouver are hotspots for climate innovation. Being in the right environment can accelerate your shift.

8. Stay Informed

Subscribe to:

• Heated
• Climate Tech VC
• Carbon Brief
• Inside Climate News
• Volts

Keeping up with developments helps you sound fluent in interviews and recognize new opportunities when they arise.

9. Start Small

You do not have to quit your job tomorrow. Volunteer, build a side project, take one online class. Each small step creates momentum.

10. Find a Mentor

I was fortunate to be contacted through LinkedIn with a mentorship offer. My mentor is an industry leader who is doing internationally acclaimed work in the junction of climate and technology. Reach out, and be open to invitations, you never know who might answer.

Living in the In-Between

I am still navigating the middle ground. I have one foot in the tech world and another in the field, both literally and metaphorically.

Some days it feels like I am living two lives, one behind a keyboard and one on mossy trails. I am not sure yet how to fully bring those together. I am still looking for the thread that will tie it all into a story that makes sense.

But I know this much: I feel more present in my life than I have in a long time. That feels like something worth following.

If you are trying to do something similar, I hope this helped. We need people from every discipline in this fight, even the ones still searching for where they belong.