I'm from Tucson. There are a number of programming and DBA jobs in Phoenix. I constantly get contacted to do contract work in the area. I don't know how many startups are based in the area. I'd look into attending a Refresh Phoenix meeting or goto a startupdrinks. Though it looks the the startupdrinks site just sends you to other local groups.<p><a href="http://www.refreshphoenix.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.refreshphoenix.org/</a><p><a href="http://phoenix.startupdrinks.com/" rel="nofollow">http://phoenix.startupdrinks.com/</a>
There seems to be a limited number of really good hackers in town and of the ones I associate with they all seem to be extremely busy at the moment.<p>The real issue is that Phoenix still isn't the tech hot bed everyone thought we might become, so attracting and keeping talent in town is extremely difficult.<p>I know I have left town twice for opportunities I just couldn't locate in town, though I always seem to come back.