Has anyone done this? what can I do to make the switch? Im a DS, and my day to day involves data exploration, extracting insights, presenting findings, stakeholders&project management, experiment design and measurement. Master level SQL, and very competent with R and Python, mostly running different analytics, ML packages, some visualizations, and have written DS helper packages in Python for other analysts and DS to use, and pretty familiar with code base/git. Im on the verge of wanting to making a transition to either MLE writing production code or become a self-serving PM. I have 5 yoe (mostly at large tech companies), bachelors in stats and MBA from a top 10 schools. Also can solve easy LC problems with minimal guidance, just not very fast. Which career path is more promising (total TC in the long run as well as job security as my brain will age) for my situation? If I were to switch to a MLE, what are some skills I need to add? Although Python can do anything, I have rarely seen it being used for production ML workflows, so I’m willing to learn new things. my interest lies closely with MLE, but may not be an optimal switch, as I probably would get downgraded to L4 at major companies, and I may not have so much ‘edge’ with my background as compared to other SWEs with CS background, so if this is the case, will make a switch to a PM. on the side, third alternative is a DS/BI manager, but this track doesn’t look very promising with limited number of open positions and limited upward mobility. Any thoughts on this as well? TC: 180K
Yeah same here. Currently a data scientist who is just importing packages and running .fit() on anything that moves. Looking to move into more non-phd technical roles in data science.
Bump
Try study in OMSCS for a couple of semesters if you really want to go into the MLE route.
Feel the same as @OP been DS for about 9 years. Good pay but I am done with all the ML models, analysis that dont go anywhere and all the stakeholder story telling. MLE is nice but need to work really hard to get to leetcode medium which is the bar at decent tech companies. Also that is the hardest route to senior mgmt. How is PM career path especially for some one changing in mid career ? I have seen few PMs grow really fast to senior mgmt while others just lost.
Similar boat. Let me know what you figure out. Sr. PA at Uber here. Basically getting pretty tired of analytics type work, but it seems like most DS roles are skewing more to phd-level work, which is beyond my quantitative background. Comp is decent and there's probably room to move up, but trying to consider different paths that could be more interesting and have more opportunity for technical growth. Not sure I'm keen on manager life yet.