If I'm good at working with people and already getting close to L6 SDE @ Amazon(US), should I switch to SDM @ L6? Pros cons? Financially, career growth ... etc
You will not own you time, much more responsibility, approximately the same pay, significantly more stress, much less career options
I made the switch a couple of years ago, and it’s been great. Currently interviewing and have multiple offers. There is definitely opportunity for career growth. Managers may be a dime a dozen, but good managers aren’t as common. Talk it over with your manager, and give it a go for a year. If you don’t care for it at that point, you can go back to SDE.
They would downlevel you. You would get L5 SDM and that would be called promotion.
It’s a one way door. Harder to get a new job as a manager that hasn’t done anything technical in a few years than it is a good developer. Managers are a dime a dozen.
This was literally just asked 1h ago. If you want to take the roll of the dice, go for it man. I wouldn’t. I’ll keep raising until I’m a director, hopefully. “Why is it? (Career)" https://us.teamblind.com/s/YbfBTcvH