The Lead Engineer Pivot: Real Stay-at-Home Dad Jobs

When we decided I would be the one staying home with the kids, I felt a strange mix of relief and terror. Relief because we were putting our kids first, but terror because I didn’t want to lose my professional identity.

I didn’t just want to be the guy who makes the Mac n’ Cheese (though I make a mean box of Kraft). I wanted to be productive. I wanted to build.

Over the years, I’ve realized that being a stay-at-home dad is actually the perfect environment for the “Lead Engineer” pivot. You have the constraints, the motivation, and now—with AI—you have the leverage.

Beyond the Side-Hustle: Building Assets

Most “stay at home dad jobs” articles suggest taking surveys or walking dogs. No disrespect to the dogs, but if you have technical skills, you should be building assets, not trading time for pennies.

1. The “AI Co-Founder” Path

This is my current obsession. Instead of just “learning to code,” use AI to bridge the gap between idea and MVP. You can build small, focused SaaS products or mobile apps during nap times.

• The Workflow: Use Gemini or Antigravity to scaffold the architecture, while you provide the strategic direction.
• The Goal: Build something once that generates recurring revenue.

2. Technical Content & Education

If you’ve spent the weekend researching the perfect bandsaw or debugging a RevenueCat integration, write it down.

• Blogging: Don’t just “journal.” Create SEO-driven guides that solve specific problems for other builders.
• Vlogging: Show the messy workshop. Show the code generating. Authenticity is your unfair advantage in a world of glossy corporate content.

3. High-Value Freelancing

If you need immediate cash flow, don’t be a generalist. Be the “RevenueCat Guy” or the “Astro Specialist.”

• Focus on specialized technical implementation that pays $100+/hr rather than data entry that pays $15/hr.

Managing the “Dad Stack”

The hardest part isn’t the work—it’s the context switching. Going from “Lead Engineer” to “Diaper Changer” in 30 seconds is a brutal transition.

My Secret: Deep work blocks. When the kids are at dance class or taking a nap, that is your “Production Environment.” No email, no social media. Just building.

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Ready to start your own pivot?