Austin Tech Job Search

rewrite in paragraphs in KonradFreemand style: Hey everyone, I live in Austin and recently lost one of my remote tech jobs, so I’m trying to find new work as quickly as possible. I’m currently working part-time at We Localize to stay afloat, but I’m hoping to get back into something more technical. My background is mostly in software and AI-related projects. I’ve worked with: • Python / Django • React and web apps • local LLM tools (Ollama, embeddings, vector databases) • building small SaaS-style projects and automation tools • working with APIs and data pipelines Most of my experience is from building projects and working remotely, so I’m curious what the Austin-specific paths are right now for getting into local tech work. A few things I’m wondering: • Are there companies in Austin that hire junior developers or contractors locally? • Are there good tech meetups where people actually hire from? • Is contract / freelance work common in the Austin tech scene right now? I’m open to a lot of things — startups, contract work, technical support, QA, or even data/AI related roles. If anyone has suggestions on companies, communities, or places to look in Austin, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.

Hey everyone, I live in Austin and recently lost one of my remote tech jobs, so I’ve been trying to figure out what the landscape looks like here locally. Right now I’m doing part-time work with We Localize just to keep things moving, but realistically I’m trying to get back into something more technical. Most of my background is in software and small AI-related projects. I’ve spent a lot of time working with Python and Django, building web applications with React, and experimenting with local LLM tooling — things like Ollama, embeddings, and vector databases. A lot of what I’ve done has been building small SaaS-style tools, automation scripts, and API-driven systems. Nothing glamorous, but the kind of practical projects you end up making when you’re trying to actually ship things instead of just talk about them. The catch is that most of my experience has been remote and project-based, so I’m still trying to understand how the Austin tech ecosystem actually works on the ground. It’s easy to read headlines about the city being a “tech hub,” but that doesn’t necessarily translate into knowing where someone should realistically start knocking on doors. So I’m curious about a few things from people who’ve been around the local scene longer than I have. Are there companies in Austin that tend to hire junior developers or contractors locally? Are there meetups or communities where people actually connect with hiring managers, not just networking in the abstract? And is contract or freelance work something that’s common here right now, or is most of the hiring happening through traditional full-time roles? I’m pretty open to different kinds of work — startups, contract projects, technical support, QA, data work, AI-related roles, whatever makes sense. At this point I’m mostly trying to get a better picture of where the real opportunities are in Austin rather than just firing resumes into the void. If anyone has suggestions on companies, communities, or places worth looking, I’d genuinely appreciate it. Thanks.

instead make it about my cat, and also instead make it about selling some service or training that I know how to do

Hey everyone, I’m writing this because something happened recently that changed the way I’ve been thinking about work. My cat died. He was euthanized at home a little while ago. He was sick, and there wasn’t much that could be done by the time we figured out how serious it was. Anyone who has had an animal for a long time knows what that’s like. A pet slowly stops being “a pet” and becomes part of the structure of your life. Your routines orbit around them in small ways you don’t notice until the orbit collapses. For me that meant a lot of quiet time afterward thinking about what I’m actually doing with my skills. My background is mostly in software and AI projects. I’ve spent years building small systems — Python, Django, React apps, automation tools, API integrations. Lately a lot of that has been around local AI tools: running models locally with things like Ollama, setting up embeddings and vector databases, building small tools that automate writing, research, or coding workflows. Most people hear “AI” and imagine giant companies and billion-dollar models. But the reality is that there’s an entire layer underneath that — small, practical systems individuals or small teams can run on their own machines. Tools that help with writing, research, coding, organizing knowledge, or automating repetitive work. And I realized something after my cat died. I’ve spent a long time learning how to build and run these systems, but I’ve almost never offered to actually teach people how to use them. So that’s what I’m thinking about now. If anyone here is curious about **learning how to run local AI tools** — things like setting up Ollama, using local models for writing or coding, building simple automation workflows, or even creating small AI-powered tools for your own work — I’m considering offering some small workshops or one-on-one training. Not corporate consulting. More like practical sessions where we set the whole thing up together and you walk away actually knowing how to run it yourself. Things like: • setting up a **local LLM environment** on your own machine • using AI for **writing, research, or coding workflows** • building small **automation tools with Python** • connecting AI to **APIs, data, or personal knowledge bases** I know a lot of people are curious about this stuff but the barrier to entry is weirdly high because most tutorials assume you already know half the stack. Anyway, I’m mostly posting to see if there’s any interest in something like that. If people in Austin (or even remotely) would find it useful, I’d be happy to organize something. Losing my cat forced me to slow down and rethink what I’m doing, and one thing that became clear is that knowledge doesn’t do much good sitting in your own head. If you know something that can help people, you should probably share it. So that’s where I’m starting.

try again but include text/photo/video/audio/voice cloning AI work I can help show -- also make it less douchy

Hey everyone, Something kind of knocked me sideways recently. My cat died. He’d been with me for years. Anyone who’s lived with an animal that long knows how quietly they weave themselves into your daily life. You don’t really notice it while it’s happening — the routines, the little habits — but when they’re gone the silence is… noticeable. So I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about work and what I actually know how to do that might be useful to other people. My background is mostly in programming and small AI projects. I’ve spent a lot of time building things with Python, Django, React, and experimenting with running AI models locally. A lot of that has been personal projects — automation tools, little SaaS-style experiments, things that connect APIs or help organize information. Over the past year especially I’ve been working a lot with **local AI tools** — running models on your own machine instead of relying on big cloud services. And one thing I realized is that a lot of people are curious about this stuff but the tutorials online jump from “install Python” straight to “build a research agent with 14 frameworks.” There’s not much in the middle. So I’m thinking about offering some simple help for people who want to learn how to use these tools in practical ways. Things like: • setting up **local AI models** on your own computer • using AI for **text generation, editing, and research** • basic **image generation and photo tools** • **video and audio AI workflows** • **voice cloning / speech tools** • building small **automation scripts** that save time Nothing corporate or expensive — more like sitting down (in person or remote) and just walking through how the tools actually work so you can use them yourself. Some people want this for creative projects. Some want it for writing or coding. Some just want to understand what’s actually possible without paying $50/month for ten different AI services. I’m not trying to sell anything fancy here — I just figured I’d ask if anyone might find something like that useful. Losing my cat forced me to slow down a bit and rethink things, and one thought that keeps coming back is that if you’ve spent years figuring out how something works, it’s probably worth sharing. So if anyone in Austin (or online) has been curious about AI tools — text, images, video, audio, whatever — and wants help setting things up or learning how to use them, feel free to reach out.

make much much shorter

Hey everyone, My cat passed away recently and it’s made me rethink some things about work and what I actually spend my time doing. Most of my background is in programming and small AI projects. Over the past year I’ve been working a lot with local AI tools — things like text generation, image tools, video, audio, and even voice cloning — usually running on your own computer instead of cloud services. I realized a lot of people are curious about this stuff but the learning curve can be weirdly high. So I’m thinking about offering some simple help for anyone who wants to learn how to actually use these tools — setting them up, understanding how they work, and using them for things like writing, media, or small automation projects. Nothing fancy, just practical help. If anyone in Austin (or remote) would be interested in something like that, feel free to reach out.

how should I price it

Since you're posting in a casual community like Reddit and offering **practical help**, pricing should feel **approachable, simple, and low-risk**. Think more like **tutoring or workshops**, not consulting. Here are 3 pricing models that usually work well for what you described: --- ## 1. Simple Hourly Help (Best to start) This is the easiest. **$40–$60 per hour** Examples: - Set up **local AI tools (Ollama, models, etc.)** - Show someone **image / video / audio AI workflows** - Help them build a **small automation script** - Walk them through **voice cloning or media tools** You can say something like: > “If people want help setting this stuff up or learning how to use it, I’m thinking around **$50/hr** for one-on-one sessions.” Why this works: - Low commitment - Easy for people to try - Fair for your skill level - Reddit audiences tolerate it --- ## 2. Fixed Setup Package (Often sells better) People like knowing the **end result**. Example: **$120 – Personal AI Setup** Includes: - Install local LLM tools - Set up text / image / audio AI - Basic workflow demo - Q&A Time: ~2 hours --- ## 3. Small Group Workshop (Highest hourly pay) Example: **$25 per person – 90 minute workshop** Topic ideas: - “Run AI on your own computer” - “Create images, video, and voice AI locally” - “Build small AI automation tools” If **6 people show up → $150 in 90 minutes**. Libraries, meetups, coworking spaces love this kind of thing. --- ## My honest recommendation for you Start with: **$50/hour** It's the **sweet spot** where: - you aren't undervaluing yourself - people don't feel like it's expensive consulting Then later you can raise to **$75/hr** once you get a few people. --- ## One small trick that helps a lot Instead of saying **“training”**, say: > “help setting up and learning AI tools” People buy **help**, not training. --- If you'd like, I can also show you **3 places in Austin where people would actually pay for this** (not just Reddit interest). There are a few communities where this kind of thing sells surprisingly well.