Background. Career abandonment among software developers is frequently associated with work-related factors, which organizations need to understand to formulate effective retention strategies and gain a deeper insight into this phenomenon. Past studies have identified various motivators for career abandonment, such as the threat of obsolescence, unstable requirements, and low code quality; however, these factors have mainly been investigated in former developers. The link between these motivators and the intention to leave among currently active developers, however, remains largely unexplored. Goal. This article aims to examine the relationship between key work-related motivators and the intention to abandon careers among currently active software developers. Method. We used a quantitative research approach, surveying 221 software developers to validate a theoretical model of career abandonment intention. This model is adapted from the Investment Model, integrating satisfaction with technical aspects of the profession along with the intention to abandon. Findings. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses through structural equation modeling (SEM), we found strong support for the adapted Investment Model in explaining software developers’ intention to leave their careers. Notably, career commitment has a significant impact on the intention to leave, positively influenced by satisfaction with technical aspects of work and negatively influenced by alternative career paths and career investment. Conclusion. This study provides valuable insights for organizational leaders and researchers in software development. The findings may guide the creation of targeted retention strategies and encourage the adoption of theoretical models that better support developers and offer explanations for career abandonment.