It is a really bad move to leave two software engineering jobs in two years?

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So, there are basically two reasons to leave a job. Personal reasons and to advance your career. If you leave two jobs in two years for one of these goals, then that’s a red flag. You’re either ruthlessly ambitious or unstable in your personal life. But if you leave a job to advance your career, and later find out that your personal life is more important, then that’s a narrative you can sell in interviews to make yourself out as a safe hire. You thought you wanted greatness, now you want family. That can make you a really appealing hire.

Companies can handle both kinds of employees, those that are in it to climb the ladder, and those who just want stable income. But they want to know which type you are before they invite you into their kingdom. Those that just want stable incomes are actually better hires for most companies, they are loyal and won’t crap where they eat. It’s the career types that they have to vet really carefully.

You leaving a job for personal reasons indicates that you are settling down. You should present yourself this way rather than as someone who is ambitious. When you want to move up, your first priority will be to move up in the company rather than out. You’ll wait your turn and not rock the boat. You’ll cite things like ‘stability’ and ‘health insurance’ as things you’re looking to get out of your job. You’ll bond with your interviewer and make friends with him because you’ll probably be seeing a lot of each other in the next 10 years.