# Meta tech lead laid off after 13 years recounts journey from DJ 2026-08-10T18:51:24+00:00 | Technology | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Henry Chen, 38, a former Meta tech lead, was laid off on May 20 after more than 13 years at the company. He joined Facebook as a contractor in 2012 after a stint as a DJ, later teaching himself Python and moving into software engineering. Chen told Business Insider that Meta’s workplace changed considerably after mass layoffs in late 2022 and early 2023. The company’s priorities shifted towards "doing more with less" and later towards rapid product building with greater AI use. After returning from paternity leave in late 2024, Chen found the organisation drastically different. He had begun exploring other roles before the layoff, and his severance package now allows him to take a month off with family before restarting his job search. ## Coverage - livemint.com Tags: career change, layoffs, Meta, Silicon Valley, technology Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/meta-tech-lead-laid-off-after-13-years-recounts-journey-from-dj/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/meta-tech-lead-laid-off-after-13-years-recounts-journey-from-dj/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.