OpenSolar and Aurora, who make web based solar design apps (like rooftop layouts and other things).
NREL.gov, because working with renewables researchers would be a dream for me (applied many times, never heard back /cry)
Starlink, even though it's Musk, because it's such a life-changing tech and a very hard interdisciplinary problem. Crazy engineering that still feels like sci-fi to me.
Rivian, because they seem more functional/grounded than Teslas. I would love a working man's EV utility vehicle rather than a futuristic spaceship.
In general, I just like smallish companies that have applied real-world uses solving immediate problems.
AI is up and coming but right now it feels like the industry is still in its infancy and not sure what problems it can solve yet, and mostly they're just frontends on top of a few API providers. Excited to see how it evolves, but so far it's not a field I'd want to work in yet (not that I'm qualified to anyway).
Web dev seems to be dying anyway, so unemployment is more likely than getting to work for any of those orgs, alas :)
But I just think it's cool when companies/orgs find a niche and are able to sustainably work on that problem, living outside the usual tech hype cycles.
The regional grid operators in the US and elsewhere are also pretty cool to work for with constant challenges and a hyper-rapidly evolving industry. It can be both exciting and boring at times, but the boring is made up for via job security. No layoffs pretty much ever. Utilities on the other hand get bought out a lot and lay people off all the time, but they can also be exciting.
This guy is here on HN. THough I cant recall his HN /u/
If I could, I'd love to be in a machine shop, making gears, learning CNC, etc. I want to figure out a way to do Power Skiving of Bevel Gears, mostly because it's supposedly impossible.
PS: Power skiving is amazing stuff -- it takes a 10 minute process and cuts it down to 30 seconds. check it out
Thats fn awesome. I wonder if you can make a poor mans power skiving jig that can merge a lathe/drill press (Like a modern ShopSmith) as a jig that one can have machined CNC_d like by PCBWay, as they have CNC services [0]
And then PCBWay cant print the PCBs that run the Pi 3950 with the app to control the new Pi-in-the-Skiver.
So, if we can .STL a Jig to make that DIY skiver... that would be nifty.
[0] - https://www.pcbway.com/rapid-prototyping/cnc-machining/
Figma
Balsamiq — from their careers page “ We're not your typical software company.
We are people-focused and highly collaborative, debt-free, profitable, remote-first, generous, and prioritize longevity over growth.”
Bumble(the dating app)
I don't even have any work experience in ML as an SWE but would like to work in such companies. I study it and play with it a little bit on my own.