Ask HN: Should I stay at a job just for the money?

[MyFakeAcct9381]

My story: I have over a decade of experience as a professional software engineer.

I started as an engineer here, then was promoted to manage the development teams. The company has grown, but their focus is not on technology. No one in senior management has a technical background. I'm the highest-ranked technical person, and I feel there isn't any room to grow within the company or learn from a mentor.

However, the owners take very good care of me. I want to be clear that I'm super grateful for them and can make no complaint with how I've ever been treated. This is a great job, I'm blessed to have it. Tell me 10 years ago I could ever make this much money and I wouldn't have believed you - it's nearly $200k per year (USD). I again want to be clear this is not a "poor me, please feel bad for me" story... I'm astounded with how lucky I have been.

Where it gets complicated: I have a hellish commute. I spend 3.5 hours a day commuting. And telecommute work here is frowned upon within the company.

If I were to leave this job for another software engineering position, it'd be for around $130k per year, with either a better commute or full-time remote work. This completely covers my living expenses.

But... a $70k pay cut is an entire salary. I don't know if my future self would look back and think I did the dumbest thing when given the best opportunity.

The ask: So I'm seeking advice... do I stick with the job that's treated me well, despite the fact that I've outgrown it or it's outgrown me?

My real life goal is to be financially independent and not have a terrible commute.

Thanks, all.

(I'm a regular HN user, just made a throwaway account for confidentiality.)

[dv_dt]

Being at the top of the local heap technically is maybe lonesome, but if there is trust and a good working relationship with the non-technical senior team then that means a lot of independence you might not have in other situations.

On the other hand 3.5 hrs is a long commute - and that is time in your life being taken up for not much value. Have you considered moving closer to work and taking up a side technical hobby? If your main goal is financial independence, an extra $70k gets you there a lot faster than without.

[MyFakeAcct9381 → dv_dt]

Thanks for responding, dv_dt

You're right to point out the commute. Thing is, traffic goes up exponentially closer to work. A 10 mile commute still takes an hour each way.

Likewise, the cost of living goes up dramatically. If I moved closer and lost the job, I'd still be facing a salary decrease if I went back to being a regular engineer.

Also, full disclosure, part of the salary is due to the fact that the company's fundamentals aren't exactly "rock-solid". There are some questions to whether it'd even exist in 1-2 years.

[LeoSolaris → MyFakeAcct9381]

Now that changes the calculus...

Might be time to dust off the resume. Remember, remote jobs receive an order of magnitude more responses. It may take a little while to snag that position.

If you can at all help it, do not make a step down. Try to aim for a lateral move into another company. In most companies, you would qualify as a CTO as the highest ranking technical person.

[MyFakeAcct9381 → LeoSolaris]

Really appreciate the advice. Especially the reminder that remote jobs get more candidates. I've had a couple local interviews so far, but none with a remote job.

Part of the step down is the allure of having a happier work/life balance. But that could well be a case of the grass being greener on the other side. It's good to have encouraging support to stick with a lateral move...

[LeoSolaris]

I assume that there is a major problem with moving closer to work, otherwise you would have done so by now.

I would have a formal meeting with your chief of staff/head of HR and point out the value add in remote work. Cite the body of research on the subject, and make sure to stress the value in employee retention with a subtle (or no so subtle) implication that you're one of those retention cases.

Make sure you address management style changes for remote work. It will be a training opportunity for many managers. Make sure you account for the costs of training.

Once those points are out there, security becomes the primary concern. Do your research and give them real costs.

Sell them on the value and productivity increases that happen because of the remote option. There are costs involved, however, there are benefits that easily create an ROI. Give the benefits in hard financial numbers, including the reduction in turnover costs, employee acquisition costs, and better indicators than clock-in/clock-out for productivity measurements. Give examples from other parts of the business than just IT. (Remember that many people take sick leave who wouldn't need to if there is a remote option.)

Your objective is to get Staffing on your side. That will go a long way to prevailing upon the rest of upper management.

With the right political maneuvering, you are showing that you are ready for a seat at the table. By both convincing upper management that the benefits of a remote friendly workplace outweigh the costs to maintain and executing on such a large culture shifting project, you are showing your value in greater strategic planning.

Once the project starts showing a positive return, propose an IT dept structural re-org. Separate Dev from Ops, with a small slice of DevOps to go between. Add a Sec focused group to protect the company's assets. With the new layer of management, they will need a C-suite to report to, which naturally should be you.

When you're at the top, expand the base to grow. When you have pain points, chances are you're not alone. Politics may not be your strongest suit, but you have a valuable, strong working relationship with these people. Use your influence to alleviate your pain points.

To make sure that you keep your hand in the technical, start side projects in all that free time you'll have as a remote leader.

[MyFakeAcct9381 → LeoSolaris]

Thanks, LeoSolaris.

Yeah, even 'close' to work still has a bad commute, and the prices skyrocket.

I do intend to bring the situation up with my superiors at work. Due to my position, I don't know if merely handing in a 2-weeks notice would be fair to them. I'm also considering negotiating a severance of a few months' salary in return for a few months' notice of leave.

You're right that even though I don't think they'd go for a telework deal, there's no harm in asking, and better to leave no stone unturned.

One part that I haven't figured out yet though, is how to replace my professional career growth. I really feel that my immediate boss doesn't have much to offer me in this capacity... and he's the source of all my work-related stress. He can be pretty hard to deal with. For more backstory- roughly 30% of the department under him has quit since he's been assigned in charge.

[icedchai]

You need to think about quality of life. 3.5 hours commute is, in my mind, pure hell. I wouldn't do that for 400K a year, never mind 200K.

[MyFakeAcct9381 → icedchai]

Thanks, icedchai. It's definitely a major factor in my life for the past few years.

The alternatives available include driving to a different city with a 2 hour / day commute, or full-time remote work.

I appreciate it... it's nice to have any encouragement that I'm not crazy for even considering passing up such an opportunity in my life.