Or is a house hack still the best way to get started and I just have to wait until my job location is more stable?

I do have a good W2 job and a husband with income as well.

You don't deduct income, you deduct expenses from your income.Generally speaking, losses experienced as part of passive investing (like operating long term residential rentals) can only be deducted from passive income.

Alongside my real estate ventures, I maintain my full-time job as a Senior Engineering Manager in Software Engineering.

I am a union electrician and due to how jobs are getting a loan is a bit of an issue.

If the property does not provide for all three, you should not underwrite or make investment decisions based on the property operating as an STR. 

My wife and I both have good jobs that we plan to keep as we’re able to have savings that we re-invest in future downpayments.

Sure as long as the roles and responsibilities are clearly laid out in an operating agreement Are there too many risks with that and do we buy it under an LLC? 

Specifically, there's job growth (Intel, Honda, Amazon, Nationwide, etc) and the population is growing (unlike Cleveland or Cincy).

Very hard to get funding for.Boston is a pricey market, tough to operate there with no capital.