Given where I was at the time I think it was a good career move and I feel like I've learned a lot including many things about being a good Engineer I learned from the manager perspective.
I've recently made it to the 'manager of managers' position and am doing well generally.
The problem I'm struggling with is that I don't love it nearly as much as I loved Engineering. I spend all of my days managing stakeholders, engaged in politics and generally not having much of an idea if my team's are successful because of or in spite of my leadership.
I'm exhausted at the end of every day in a way that I never was as an Engineer and at 37 with a young family I feel like this energy sapping slog takes away from my ability to be a good dad. I also can't see the next 25 years being that much fun from my current position.
So I'm considering switching back. I have 12 or so years as an engineer and have done well on that track prior to switching.
Anyone have any good anecdotes positive or negative on the switch back to front like engineering from the manager track after a few years? Or those that didn't and pushed through some kind of inflection point into senior leadership that was easier than middle management?
Thanks!
That aside, it is a tougher transition back to IC than I thought it would be. My new manager asks what I’d do, management wise, sometimes, but I don’t like being put in that position: there’s a reason I left management. Also, even though I wrote code frequently on my own time and contributed to designs, that’s not the same as being in the thick of it, and my skills deteriorated noticeably. That’s a hard thing to manage.
A big part of it is politics. I think we had fairly good politics - we politely informed one another that we would throw them under the bus, and then have drinks after work apologizing for that. But I'd rather be spending my energy doing something positive rather than writing documentation to appease a party.
On the bright side, it is fun being a "boss". Sort of like those video game bosses where you send minions to do something, where an international team is flown in and still can't fix it. I come in and spend a day or two fixing it while on paternity leave. Of course, it was just assembling the results of the rest of the team; not taking credit for that. But that kind of thing is not appreciated as an engineer.
Being an engineer pays a little better - similar salary + free devices + free repairs. Not as many expensive dinners. No fully sponsored international flights and fancy hotels. But I get to work 8 hours and go home. I get actual time off to work on my own fun projects.
Happy to DM you if you don't feel like taking this up on the public channel. Thank you!
As a manger, I found it stressful being responsible for the work of an entire team, frequently working long hours to help fulfill commitments. I also found personnel issues stressful, especially having to lay off people. Like you, I enjoy development work much more than management work.