Can you get a job as a mechanical engineer somewhere that would allow you to move into programming at the same company?

I ask because it's probably easier for you to get a job as an ME (mechanical engineer) than a software engineer, given your background.

Silicon Valley has plenty of robotics companies and other companies that make "real stuff" who need mechanical engineers. And once you're in a company as a productive ME, you can reach out to your software colleagues and see if you can help & learn. And don't just think of northern California - Seattle and southern California have companies that might fit the ME + software profile as well.

And if you're thinking of the East Coast at all, please reach out - I work at iRobot in Boston, MA, and we have plenty of ME's who dabble in software. The Boston area has TONS of other companies who do hardware + software too.