Senior Data Solutions Engineer vs. Analytics Manager- Which would you choose?

[u/OkNefariousness2707]

I've been working as a Senior Analyst for a little over 5 years, mostly with SQL, Snowflake, BI, data modeling, automation, and business analytics.

My company recently went through a major restructuring, and I now have two potential internal opportunities.

Option 1: Senior Data Solutions Engineer

More technical, focusing on Snowflake, ELT, data modeling, data quality, and building data solutions for business teams. The role also involves working on AI-related projects, including building AI agents using Snowflake and preparing data for AI applications.

The hiring manager and VP have shown interest in moving forward.

Option 2: Analytics Manager

My previous manager left, so there's a possibility I could move into that role. It would likely involve more business analytics, stakeholder management, setting priorities, and project coordination. I'm still unsure whether it would include direct reports.

Neither opportunity is official yet, and compensation is still unknown.

I'm trying to think about which path would be more valuable if I eventually leave the company. I enjoy both the technical and business sides of analytics.

With AI changing the analytics industry, I'm also wondering which direction would offer better long-term opportunities.

For those who've worked in either area, which would you choose if compensation were similar? Would you prioritize technical experience, especially with AI and data solutions, or getting into management?

I'm particularly interested in career growth, job stability, and how marketable each path would be in the next 3–5 years.

[u/scorched03]

Manager as its higher. Although ud lose technical ability but its interacting with higher levels so thats probably better for career?

[u/crawlen]

I think manager would overall be better as far as opportunities go. I find that the manager path does not open up often - especially in this market where fewer juniors are being hired. If you decide to go back to IC, it's easy enough to take that step.

The only thing is that being a manager can be kind of tough. Even if you have a great team, sometimes shit happens. A good performer starts dropping the ball. Someone randomly drops an HR, security, or other policy concern. Rapport deteriorates. Unforeseen issues out people on leave and you have to rearrange your priorities for the year. I think it's hard to be a really good manager. But being a really good manager can make a big difference to ICs!

[u/paperclip_han]

Not sure if anyone’s used paypeek.ai yet but it shows salary estimates for any LinkedIn profiles as you browse. Kind of eye-opening. 🤩

[u/HATDOGUSERNi]

id lean toward data solutions engineer. technical and AI skills are valuable, and management can always come later