Even as a well-paid, salaried software engineer, there's a moderate chance that they're still obligated to give you overtime pay (at least in CA -- heavily depends on your jurisdiction), especially if your job is implementing a series of small stories that are completely designed by somebody else and especially if there isn't enough leeway to take a little time to learn about the thing you're coding. You might consider talking to a lawyer or some kind of workers advocate. A year of back-paid overtime can go a long way toward weathering a recession ;)