The Job Title Developers Are Overlooking That Could Restart Your Tech Career After a Layoff
If you’ve recently been laid off from a major tech company like Microsoft, Google, or Amazon, you’re not alone. Thousands of experienced engineers and technical workers are navigating a job market that looks very different from when they first entered the industry. The instinct is to search for roles with familiar titles like Software Engineer, Product Manager, or Architect. But there’s one category of jobs that many are skipping over: Community Manager.
At first glance, the title might sound like a marketing or social media role. But in the developer world, Community Manager jobs are built for people with a technical background. You’ll usually see them listed as “Developer Community Manager” or “Developer Relations Manager.” Companies want people who can engage with developers, explain technical concepts, and build authentic connections in coding communities. Traditional community managers may be skilled at growing online groups, but developer communities are different. Think Salesforce Admin vs. Salesforce Developer or Network Admin vs. Software Engineer. To succeed, you need someone who can write code, understand real technical challenges, and bring that credibility to every interaction.
Developer Community Manager Search Results on LinkedIn
The job descriptions tell the story. Tag is looking for someone who can foster engagement in open-source communities, build relationships with developers, and serve as a peer-to-peer resource on platforms like GitHub and Stack Overflow. Another company, Galileo is hiring people who know how AI applications are built, can run forums and hackathons, and keep developers connected and learning from one another. Databricks is seeking similar candidates with a deep background in data analytics. These are not lightweight roles; they require real coding experience and credibility. Salaries range from $120k - $250k.
For laid-off engineers, especially those over 40, these positions represent an overlooked transition opportunity. They get you back into a company with a competitive salary and benefits while keeping you connected to both technology and a strong professional network. Once you’re inside, you’re better positioned to move into other roles or leverage the experience for your next career step. You might find that you enjoy being a community manager and seek growth opportunities in this career path.
If you’ve mentored junior engineers, shared knowledge online, contributed to open source, or presented at meetups or user groups, you already have relevant experience. Combined with your coding background, you bring the technical credibility companies are seeking in these roles.
Bottom line: don’t dismiss Community Manager jobs just because the title looks unfamiliar. In today’s job market, they may be the best bridge back into the industry, one that helps you stay relevant, get re-employed faster, and set yourself up for long-term success.