Will CS masters help me? BSEE + MBA + 12 yoe
I started in HW, then systems + eng mgmt + program mgmt. Want to be able to do cutting edge AI/ML work, and I’ll be honest, I’d like some elite TC too. I’m in SoCal, top TC was 230 at SpaceX with high stress, now my TC is 190 with no stress. Some of my friends from SpaceX are pulling 300+ at Lyft, Uber, and Microsoft. Will a CS masters help me get that? Will I need to leave SoCal for that kind of TC?
You have an MBA, move to management.
Been doing that, and it’s been cool, but I want to re-up my technical skills, and software seems the obvious opportunity. Plus there are more high TC positions in software than in management.
Ah okay. You should consider applying to PM roles as well in that case, at software companies. I'm suggesting the following path: HW Engineering manager Software Engineering PM Software Engineering Manager
Too late for you to pivot.
It’ll help you get recruiters to call you. If you can’t deliver in interviews, it won’t help.
100%
What makes you truly happy? High TC? No stress at work? WLB?
Different things at different times. Right now, no stress and high WLB. In a few years, I want to get higher TC because my kids will be in school.
Did you like moving to big aero for wlb? I have new big life responsibility coming up and thinking about such a move (sounds like same as you). I barely have time to do leetcode in order to get something better TC+wlb but at least I can take the paycut and coast for a year at big aero company and crush some leets while having time at home for stuff Would be hard to stomach working on defense stuff though...
Yep, that’s why I moved. I was failing at family stuff because of long hours and feeing stressed and cranky. Had a big wake-up call and optimized for WLB! Figured I can always make more money later, but I can’t time-travel to fix relationships.
“Would be hard to stomach working on defense stuff” I get it. You hate America jkjkjk Nah really I’ve grappled with this. I worked in defense during the Iraq War and it drove me to leave ASAP. Without going into details I don’t feel conflicted on the stuff I work on now. Defense isn’t monolithic, there is a lot of variety. Not sure if you’re in SoCal but Raytheon SAS in El Segundo has a lot of space tech to work on.
Probably not
🙄
Can you clarify?