Okay boys. I got another job offer for a job I think I want. The offer is for a staff role in their data platform org. Its a rapidly growing company at $2B ARR. They are more mature in data organization but a bit behind on the tooling I prefer. This is because I had total control of data infra at my current place, or at least de facto control. I've tried to get the company to adopt the strategy of getting technically proficient data people in their business teams for years with limited success.
This company hires "analytics engineers" directly to work in that slice of the business as this is ultimately much more efficient. This is a very hard conversation to have with business teams as they never understand that value and just go with the cheaper fresh grad data analyst because he's 1/3 the price of an AE. Perpetuating the same problems. They are technically behind where I've led my current company in various ways but their org is larger and they want to update so I get it.
Having a bit of a dilemma choosing though so I am spending the weekend deliberating on it. I would appreciate any and all ridicule, insults, and maybe a kernel of decent advice you are willing to provide.
I main concern is that I am trading 7 years of seniority I enjoy and de facto total control of data infrastructure to start greenfield once again. Albeit in a much more senior role and about $50k more in income. Income being the least of reasons to take the job. I have been promoted 4 times in 7 years at my current company and I would inevitably get promoted again as we ride to $1B in revenue (prob 3 years away, maybe 4).
I am not getting any younger and I have always known my current place underpays a bit relative to the market and I never really cared. I still don't care about that. So I am looking at tradeoffs.
Current:
- De Facto ownership of entire data platform.
- Lots of seniority and tenure I enjoy.
- SAAS company. Strong product, I would recommend it to anyone in the space it occupies.
- Free to experiment with whatever and include whatever (within $ reason of course).
- Awesome company, I have always loved working here.
- Would be promoted again eventually.
- Org is slow to adopt data modernization as described above.
- Real Time data processing not necessary for the business side (I researched this for them for several years and despite their OMG REAL TIME, it had almost no impact on the business itself. It only mattered to keep the product itself functioning well).
New:
- Behind on the tech a little bit, but recognize the things I have been doing recently as where they want to go.
- Ahead on the organizational strategy for the company.
- Very rapid growth.
- SAAS/Standard service company kind of hybrid thing. Interesting product I see their value to real world stuff. Logistics company.
- Real time data processing is integral for both the product and running the business itself which interests me from a technical perspective.
- I explicitly asked about growth in the org and they were very direct about it (unless lying to me I guess) they wanted someone who can mentor and lead the org some which is the direction I want to go. As I am almost 40 (god damn).
I'll have to go to the office 2x a week but I am actually grateful for that as I have been WFH for 5 years now and even I need to get out of the house a bit more. As introverted as I may be.
