I'm sure many out there can understand, but I'm at a bit of a crossroads with my career/life - been in one lab or another for fifteen years and getting a bit sick of it. I've always had an interest in the database and macro programming side of things so I cold-called a couple of LIMS companies to enquire what sort of qualifications one needs to get into this type of work.

To cut a long story short I've been offered a job with a STARLIMS vendor. It will involve travelling to the labs that have purchased it, consulting with them, installing the software, customising it to fit their requirements and some macro programming if necessary.

It seems quite an interesting job and firstly I'd like to know if there is anybody out there in this line of work; is it rewarding, interesting etc. The other thing is what do people think of the system? How does it stand with others? The LIMS systems I've worked with have all been purpose-built (apart from a brief flirtation with ChemStore) and pretty ordinary. What are the off-the-shelf packages like?

I don't want to work for a company with a dog for a product (heaven knows there are plenty out there...).

Many thanks in advance.