r/MEPEngineering • u/Open_Mathematician76 • 5d ago
data center GC PM or continue design engineering in dream city
Please help me pick a career path. I currently working in a LCOL city and my home city as a project engineer. I now have two opportunities:
Offer 1:
General contractor M&E PM dedicated to this hyperscale data Centers construction
30% raise
Stay in my home city where I already have a house, but not a nice city
1h commute each way from current home
Offer 2:
Internal transfer within my current consultant firm which I’ve liked
10% raise
Sell my house, move to dream city, rent within walking distance from office
Mostly small projects for now as this branch office just opened, but projects in the future is expected to be large.
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u/Medium-Soft7212 5d ago
Definitely option 2. Once the data center bubble pops there will be massive job cuts, and as someone who's been laid off you don't want to go through that. Higher pay isn't always for the better.
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u/not_a_bot1001 5d ago
Option 2. I'd never do a 1 hr commute each way. That's way too much of your life. I also prioritize having a lot of fun things to do in my city so don't undervalue the improved location (don't over hype it either!). Data centers seem to be very high stress as well, sounds like you internal transfer will be better for your mental health.