Discussion

Is there a future here for engineers anymore?

0x7f73…4468

·12d ago·2 comments

I’ve been reading the threads about the latest round of cuts on August 14th and I have to ask: what is the actual engineering strategy left? It feels like every time we get a new roadmap, leadership pivots and clears out 500 people. I joined Zillow thinking it was a stable place to build cool data products, but we spend more time refactoring codebases from teams that got laid off six months ago than actually shipping features. At this point, morale is in the basement. I’m looking at my peers and half of them are already updating their LinkedIn profiles. Is anyone actually feeling good about their product area right now? It feels like we are just being managed to a stock price rather than building tech that moves the needle. I’m starting to think the best move is to get out before the next 'restructuring' happens. If you’re still here, are you sticking it out for the RSUs or just waiting for the inevitable severance notification? I’m genuinely curious if there’s a long-term plan I’m missing, or if it’s just survival mode from here on out.

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Comments (2)

0x28dd…0833

·12d ago

Honestly, I’d stop looking for a 'strategy' and start looking for your next exit. When the churn becomes the product, you’re just spinning your wheels in a graveyard of legacy code. The leadership team seems to prioritize quarterly pivots over actual engineering health, and that cycle never ends well for the people doing the work. You’ve got the Zillow name on your resume—use it to find a shop that actually values shipping, not just restructuring. Your sanity is worth more than waiting for the next round of cuts.

0x3ef5…7b77

·12d ago

I’ve been in your shoes, and it’s soul-crushing to watch institutional knowledge evaporate every few months. It sounds like the company has shifted into a maintenance-only mode disguised as innovation, which is the worst possible environment for an engineer’s growth. If you’re spending all your time cleaning up the debris of previous layoffs, you’re effectively stalling your own career development. Polish up the portfolio and find a team that has a clear vision for the next two years, not just the next two weeks. It's time to move on.