Ask HN: Moving to DC in 2023?

Hey folks, I work remotely in the open-source space, and I'm considering a move to the DuPont Cirlce / Logan Circle area in DC? Any DC folks on here have advice? How is the tech/startup scene in 2023? Not interested in ever getting a security clearance or working on anything in the defense industry, is there a tech presence outside of that industry? Thanks

My experience has been the tech scene is connected to government funding (defense and otherwise), non-profits, advocacy groups, etc. Many of these would be smaller companies, but can be either grant driven or dependent on a govt contract. Also many govt contracts are through a prime (think Lockheed Martin) given the complexity of govt contracting.

On the plus side, some of the work can truly be for the public good. Especially if it’s connected to a cause you’re passionate about. On the downside, you can be at the whim of budgets, grant awards, donors, etc.

Tech/startup work probably is going to have to do with government or electoral stuff. I can't tell you much about that end of things. You might want to look at meetup.com for technologies that interest you and have Washington meetings. The techiest stuff is probably out toward and beyond Dulles Airport, say Reston to Ashburn. Trust me when I say that you do not want to commute from Washington to Reston, let alone Ashburn.

I know techies who work for civil agencies (Federal Reserve), associations (AARP, American Chemical Society), labor unions, etc. The work is not HN-front-page stuff, but generally pays decently.

Amazon is still building HQ2 across the river, aren't they?

If you're not in defense or government why would you want to live in DC?

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is in Greenbelt, Maryland, just outside the Beltway. I was a contractor there, mostly as a Unix and Linux system administrator, for nearly 30 years. It's a great place to work, but the salaries won't be as high as you'd get in private industry. Commuting from Dupont Circle might be a pain, but it's a reverse commute, so that helps. (Most commuter come into the city in the morning, not out of it.)