How to get functional software engineering experience?

[Jeffrey Palmer]

Hello all,

I've got a not-quite-so-technically-detailed question for everyone.

For the past ten or so years, I've been building relatively large "real-w=
orld"=20
software systems, and I've always been interested in finding new and=20
innovative ways to reduce complexity and improve system maintainability. =
I=20
was recently seduced by functional programming, and I'm now VERY interest=
ed=20
in applying a functional software engineering approach to a real project.

However, it appears that the only place (short of Ericsson) I can actuall=
y=20
work on a complex functional system is in academia. Unfortunately, this i=
s=20
not an option, as I have no Ph.D., and going back to school is probably n=
ot=20
realistic.

Are there any options for people like me, or does my functional experienc=
e=20
remain limited to the hobby* work I can squeeze in at night and on weeken=
ds?

Thoughts?

=09- j

* I'm building a realistic image synthesis package in Haskell, if anyone'=
s=20
interested.  ;)

--=20
The river is moving.=20
The blackbird must be flying.