Oh you are in for a treat if you think a cushy high paid low stress FAANG job is soul crushing.

The software writing bit is easy. The extra special experience is managing the clients, who are barely able to manage themselves, and who will behave as stupid and unreasonable and finger-pointing at you for problems they caused as they can, at every opportunity.

none of those projects are ‘straightforward’ and all the contracts are traps if you don’t have a contracting lawyer as your wingman. cave canem.