u/Least_Description484

Currently a Sr platform engineer

Things I like about current job:

• Creating tests
• Leading testing initiatives
• Creating CICD pipelines
• Automation
• Reducing developer toil
• Finding and debugging issues
• Building internal tools
• Systems engineering
• Architecting and validating system reliability
• Threat modeling and automating security posture
• Autonomy to work on improvements I think of
• Defining SLI, SLO, and SLAs

Things I dislike:

• On call
• Being responsible for infrastructure uptime SLAs
• Tracking and monitoring SLI, SLO, and SLAs

I had about 10 interviews the past few years for platform roles, and every one said that they had some form of on-call.

After looking through many posts here, it seems like SDET has the potential to cover most of the things I like, with none of the dislikes.

I don't mind a decrease in salary.

The only thing I'm worried about is having to start as a junior/mid-level SDET and losing some autonomy for a few years while I work my way back up to senior.

Any other considerations I should take into account?

View Poll

Leaning towards Cybersec, SRE, or Finops since they're more technical, but can see myself doing all of them.

Here's what the responsibilities of each would be:

Cybersecurity

• Automating vulnerability scanning
• Basic understanding of how RBAC and IAM effects us
• Threat modeling

SRE

• QA and automated testing
• SLO, SLA, Error Budgets
• Observability

Finops

• Automated resource optimization
• Cost visibility
• Meetings with finance team

Community

• Documetation quality
• Onboarding new hires
• Coordinating team events

Edit: I decided to go with Cybersec champion, while continuing to lead the testing effort on my team to have some part of SRE responsibilties. After some introspection, I realized I'm not much of a people person, so wouldn't do as well in Finops or Community.