Optaros

[Greg Rundlett]

Optaros is a good group as far as I can tell.  I just discovered them
recently in my job search, pursuing them with great interest because
it seemed ideal (Get paid to develop solutions based on OpenSource). 
I interviewed with them, and was offered a postion as a consultant
with them (actually the title was Sr. GUI Developer).  But, I decided
to decline the offer in favor of a postion with OASIS.  My decision
was influenced in part by the 50% travel that they expect (which can
mean working for a stretch of several months at a client location,
with only weekend trips home.)  My decision was also influenced by the
amount of compensation offered, but I am guessing that I/somebody
could have negotiated a higher offer.

Optaros has a stated policy of having staff dedicate 10% of their time
to open source projects to keep up to date.  And, they also seem to
'get it' in that they *want* people to be comitters on open source
projects.  You could make the analogy that it is the equivalent of the
traditional consulting companies who boast how many advanced degrees
their consultants have on average.  "We are comitters on this project,
so we know the solution better than anyone else".  More than that,
they understand the lifecycle and benefits of FOSS development.  If
client enhancements are not comitted back into the codebase, then the
delivered project is essentially a fork and more difficult to
maintain.  Clients don't have an interest in monetizing an enhancement
to FOSS, they are more interested in a robust (and self-maintaining)
solution.  They also don't have the skills/capacity to join in the
community development process.  So, without an Optaros, a company is
more likely to be a leech.  With an Optaros, they have a solution;
support; a conduit to see their investment sewn into the project; and
thus future dependability.

If you are a consultant, they are worth checking out.  There are others too.

- Greg