Subject: You are THE only one

I have been searching for a great Mac/Win software engineer for my best
client – a privately-held, pre-IPO software company with 18 patents on
their own technology, and YOU are the only candidate that I have found
that comes close to what my client is looking for in terms of skills.  I
would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your current
employment and if you would consider this opportunity:

MACINTOSH and WINDOWS SOFTWARE ENGINEER

RESPONSIBILITIES:
This individual will be a key developer in a small team of software
engineers designing and developing MS-Windows and Macintosh based vertical
applications and tools that allow digital watermarks to be embedded in and
read out of digital images.  The candidates selected will work closely
with the core digital watermark R&D team as well as the marketing and
business development groups.
SKILLS:
* Working knowledge of Macintosh architecture, MacOS, Macintosh
application and systems software programming.
* Working knowledge of PC architecture, WIN32, MS-Windows application
and systems software programming.
* At least 2 years experience developing C, C++ software with
Metrowerks CodeWarrior and PowerPlant required.
* At least 1 year of experience developing C, C++ software with
Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) required.
* Demonstrated ability to deliver robust, high-quality end user
products on time.
* Experience developing digital imaging software (including image
filtering and compression) highly valued.
* Experience developing graphical user interfaces highly valued.
* Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic small company environment
* Demonstrated creativity, problem-solving skills.  Demonstrated
ability to work in a team as well as individually.
* Excellent oral / written communications skills are required.
* BS / MS in Computer Science, EE, Physics, Mathematics or equivalent
a plus.

Please send me an email and let me know when would be a good time
to talk with you further about this.  I look forward to hearing from you.

I am certain I could got this job, despite lack of C++ knowledge. C++ had really come into its own by 1999, but I stopped programming before learning it. I responded that I was happy as a manager. I was also missing working on digital imaging software, but I hit enough of the requirements….

But once again, an anonymous company. They were de riguer during the dot com boom. I am not a huge believer in software patents, and having 18 of them is much less impressive than a revenue stream.

My best guess is that this company was acquired by somebody else in 2000 or 2001.

However, once again I missed the clue that I should have stayed in development.