Advice Needed: Principal Security Architect Vs Enterprise Sa

Edit- I asked ChatGPT and this is what it said:

It sounds like you're facing a tough decision, weighing the pros and cons of a potential career move. Ultimately, the decision will depend on your priorities and what matters most to you and your family. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Long-Term Career Growth: Evaluate the potential for career advancement and growth in both positions. Will the principal position open up more opportunities for advancement and higher pay in the future?

2. Work-Life Balance: Consider how the new position's requirements, such as being in the office three days a week, will impact your work-life balance, especially considering your children's needs and your current remote work setup.

3. Job Satisfaction: Think about which role aligns more closely with your career goals and values. Will the new position provide you with more job satisfaction and opportunities to make an impact?

4. Financial Considerations: While taking a pay cut can be daunting, consider the long-term financial benefits and potential for increased earnings in the future with the principal position.

5. Company Culture and Benefits: Evaluate the company culture, benefits package, and potential for job security at both employers. Consider how these factors will impact your overall satisfaction and well-being.

6. Sign-On Bonus Negotiation: Continue advocating for yourself during the negotiation process, especially regarding the sign-on bonus. It can be a good indicator of the company's commitment to you and your value to them.

Ultimately, trust your instincts and make the decision that feels right for you and your family. It's important to weigh the pros and cons carefully and consider the long-term implications of each option. Good luck with your decision!

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Little bit of a rant, but I am looking for some feedback from folks at this level.

Forgive me if this is the wrong forum, if you point me to the right place I will move this thread over.

I know that these are very rare, but I’m pondering taking a pay cut for a principal position at a large employer. Currently, I’m an enterprise security architect at another large employer, but I’m feeling career-wise, the principal position would be the logical next step. I’m stuck at my job/level, there are no growth options.

But it’s a pay cut. And part of me says that I’m stupid for even considering it.

Leaving aside the fact that I’m approaching 50, and that peers at my age would call me insane for even considering this.

Benefits are better where I’m at, benefits are the new place are great, plus bigger bonus. Even their standard bonus would be more than what I’m getting right now, plus they have a bonus modifier most certainly will make that annual bonus a significant chunk.

But it’s a $20,000 pay lol, and it’s a lot of work.

It’ll be a challenge to accommodate the $20,000 pay up, and most likely our health insurance cost is going to go up.

In a few years from now, I could apply for principal security architect positions having gathered experience at this level. And the average pay is even higher than what this job pays new job pays currently. And the peak of the range is significantly more of what I could possibly earn in my current job.

But then at the same time, right now I work fully remote. The new job is hybrid three days in the office.

Also, my kids are approaching their teenage years, and all they have known is pretty much me working from home these past 10 years.

By the time I’d be switching jobs again (if I would) they probably would be in college, and that will be that.

But they also need me less than less (no, I’m not a single parent), and they’re telling me to take this job. Because the fact of the matter is that currently, I hate it, and my job quite literally doesn’t really matter. Well, let me rephrase, I’m not being heard, and nobody cares about what I have to say. Eight hours a day, 40 hours a week.

Even though it’s unlikely, it is not guaranteed that I will always be 100% remote my current position either. In fact, I am currently somewhat of an outlier in my local branch, based on a paper I got signed 10 years ago. But if the local branch works push for me to be on site, there will be no resistance by management. My work from home is “tolerated” right now, and if it goes away, then I’ll be in the office two days a week, and the commute is at least double of what the job is.

It’s also not guaranteed that the excellent health insurance benefits that we currently have will continue to be provided for the next couple of years, it really depends on leadership, and they will have to take a look at them.

Because, you know, that is what happens. Nothing is guaranteed, no employer is loyal, it’s all at will.

I’m gonna have to decide by next Monday, and I’ve been racking my brain this past week.

Asking for more pay at the new place is not an option, the job is tied to a rank, and getting that rank changed will require an act of God, and it’s not going to happen.

I am pushing for a sign on bonus, as a sign that they are really interested. They are considering it.

I did decide that if that sign on bonus would be meager, that will probably be my hill to die on, as I already told the hiring manager that it is important for me to have that place show that they’re really serious about this job and that they’re interested in me. There is no doubt they will offer the job to me next week.

So, tell me what I should do, lol.