i’m not CS, but i’m something else that has choices and could always work for the dark side. i see postings periodically and frankly the pay wouldn’t even be close to worth it. i usually frame my choice for public service as a benefit with a stinger:

“sure, i could work for [asshole corporation] and make 15-25% more, but then all my bosses and coworkers would be myopic, dissembling assholes who don’t give a fuck about anyone except themselves. no thanks.”

i haven’t worked in a for-profit entity for approaching 20 years. the corporate ones were cliquey, alienating and isolating. the smaller “family” ones were all toxic, nepo-hives, and incestuous. non profits can totally be all fucked up, for sure, but generally people are there because they give a shit about something. and not like “i want to help Elon Musk realize his dreams” type shit, but more like community, resource conservation, literacy. those are people with whom i can eat lunch, have a conversation or share a carpool and have a good time.