> Almost every attempt of mine to change anything was met with either "yeah we know but we have to live with it for now" or a straight denial to hear me out - brushed aside as a newcomer (I'm senior and was hired as such).
A senior resource in such a mess can take action and seek consensus afterwards. The idea is to pick a problem sub-system and fixing it. Just do it and don't talk about it. Get it done with demonstrated benefits to establish credibility. Subsequent change proposals will be supported by management. It's a risky move -- you may find yourself contributing to the mess -- but you are prepared to quit anyway so failure is definitely an option.
> the project is a slow motion train wreck
Reexamine this diagnosis. Include related matter that almost certainly you are not disclosing here, including honest self-assessment in this reevaluation. IFF you determine that (a) this is a mess, and (b) I am not capable of contributing to fixing the mess, then sure, quit.
A senior resource in such a mess can take action and seek consensus afterwards. The idea is to pick a problem sub-system and fixing it. Just do it and don't talk about it. Get it done with demonstrated benefits to establish credibility. Subsequent change proposals will be supported by management. It's a risky move -- you may find yourself contributing to the mess -- but you are prepared to quit anyway so failure is definitely an option.
> the project is a slow motion train wreck
Reexamine this diagnosis. Include related matter that almost certainly you are not disclosing here, including honest self-assessment in this reevaluation. IFF you determine that (a) this is a mess, and (b) I am not capable of contributing to fixing the mess, then sure, quit.