WWYD? FDE/AI engineer vs. backend engineering
Throwaway account for privacy.
I have ~3 YoE, all at the same mid-tier company. I've been working in a client-facing FDE/AI engineer role for the past year. Think short-term projects (15-20 weeks per engagement), with a tech stack that's fairly easy to pick up (python/js + any cloud provider). TC is ~120k base + 10% bonus + super.
I feel valued at the company and have good relationships. I'm due for a promotion in the next 6 months, which will likely put me at ~140k base + 10% bonus + super. The work is relatively easy, but at times it feels more client and people focused than tech focused. I don't foresee more technical growth, but moving into management or consulting in 3-5 years is a realistic path.
The bonus isn't guaranteed. It's based on personal and business performance, although it's been consistent in my experience.
I also have an offer from another mid-high tier company for a backend role. It's a more traditional dev job and isn't client facing. It would be an entirely new language, stack, and domain for me, but the tech seems really solid (think low latency, high concurrency, and large scale systems). TC is ~130k base + 20% bonus + super. The 20% bonus is very optimistic though. I've heard payouts have been 0% and 15% over recent years.
The new role and company are really interesting, but I'm trying to work out whether it's the better career and financial decision. I'm not set on either the FDE/soft-tech/management/consulting path or the IC/staff/principal path, and I'd like to keep my options open.
My concern is that if I stay, get promoted, and spend another few years in this role, it'll become much harder to move back into a traditional dev role without taking a pay cut. On the other hand, it feels like the consulting/management path will always be there without a pay cut, since there aren't many devs that are willing/able to do the client-facing side of the job.
Part of me wonders what the future for FDE/AI engineering roles is going to be. It's hot now, and I could jump ship and make significantly more money, but it doesn't feel like it's a role that's going to have a future in 5-10+ years time. Could be wrong on this.
Financially, I'd likely be giving up somewhere between $0-15k over the next 10 months if I move, depending on the exact raise and bonus amounts. I'm debt and dependent free, so I don't need the money, but it's still something to consider.
WWYD?