It seems nobody really wants a part-time employee.
Is there a niche that i'm missing where my sales/engineering experience could be better utilized?
2. When you get offer, tell them you want part time.
3. Repeat until employed.
It works! E.g. this guy has done it for past 15 years: https://codewithoutrules.com/2018/01/08/part-time-programmer...
Especially in many roles where they expect to add you as a regular member to an existing team of full-time people.
It would likely piss off those people too who may now demand the same arrangement or be unhappy about having to deal with a single team member who is only available part-time.
Hiring is hard. If you're a good candidate some companies (not all) will consider it.
Personal experience: I've worked less than full time for years now. None of my coworkers have been pissed off about it. Some companies have hired me.
And if my coworkers ask for part-time work, good for them. In practice this usually results in people being more productive.
2. Negotiated 35 hour work week at next job.
3. Negotiated 35 hour work week at job after that.
Person in link above has been doing this for 15 years, I think he typically does 32 hours or 4 days a week.