Sounds to me that you actually enjoy the type of work that you're doing, it's just that your management is so in line with the profit margin mantra that they don't see your value.

Earlier in life, I had to tow the line. Now, I take jobs I want, and say a big fsck you if I'm introduced into a project where politics overrule logic.

Do what you've got to in order to get by, but don't throw away your personal desires because some team or management keeps you in a box.

That's my $0.02.