It probably depends on exactly what the crime was, but bank robbery or fraud are going to be tough.
(I'd be ok with hiring someone with a manslaughter conviction or other thing if it were not calling character into question. Or, something like a principled hacking conviction would probably be ok in most roles, although clients often care about felony status.)
The only hope, as the OP says, is to figure out a way to market a tech skill directly, or to start something on his own.