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Comment by angersock | Hacker News Reader

Come to Texas. We have cheap cost of living and baller-as-hell problems to work on, whether you want games or graphics or oil & gas.

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Yeah, I'm thinking about that. I really like the idea of going to Austin but the reason I'm thinking of SF is because the software / data scene there is off the charts. A friend of mine told me yesterday it's like what Paris 1910 was for painters.

So, looking over at Houston there are all kinds of crazy datasets for both energy exploitation and energy trading. There's a thriving if quiet startup community, and a local private university of some note in applied math (Rice). It's pretty unpretentious, but that's the city--we are all about the bidness.

Besides, it's a chance to crunch numbers for something other than selling ads and cat pictures. :)

Would you happen to know how to find these companies? I know of a few (FlightAware, for instance) but figuring out who's doing what in Houston isn't as easy as the Bay Area. I've been trying to get in touch with some companies in Houston (I graduate in May) and I'd much appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction!

If you decide on Austin, lemme know. I know some folks at a privately owned high frequency trading firm that I believe are hiring, or numerous startups in the area depending on what exactly you're looking for.

Is this RGM? I've had some contact with them already but I don't know of any other HFT in Austin. I'd be interested to know of others.

Yeah, it's rgm. I'm good friends with 2-3 developers, friends with 1-2 and friends with their network guy and one of the sysadmins. All are really happy and enjoying it, and none of them are "like working for bigco" folks.

Twosigma has an office out of Houston (I recruited a bit for them (no placements) a few years ago). You sound like a good fit.

http://www.twosigma.com/

Honestly more of a technologist HFT company vs financial (stuffy) firm (details in email I shot ya).

You can do HFT in Austin - http://www.rgmadvisors.com/

Edit: I see the discussion has passed me by. I'll add that I'm really enjoying working at RGM, and would definitely recommend it for anyone who does not have a strong preference toward living in SF or NY.

I can't help you out with many connections, all the people I know are barley getting started with their careers, but there are tons of startups and tech companies in the Austin and Houston area.

One of my good friends started working as an engineer for Texas Instruments (in Dallas) and loved it until he had offer he couldn't refuse from a Silicon Valley company and moved out to California.

What did he do for TI? I have had my eye on them for a few months, since it would just be a move across the parking lot for me.

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