Lead/Manager vs Individual contributor which is better?
- by User11091981
Currently I am working in a company as a Manager (software dev). But I only have 6.8 yrs experience. I joined this company as a software engineer and got promoted to SSE, Lead and Manager. Some of my team members are having better experience than me, and I feel like I need to have more exposure/experience to take these roles. I feel like it is better to be an individual contributor learn many things for another couple of years and become a Principal Software Engineer, rather than involving in Management.
Options I have:
1. Ask my current employer to make me an individual contributor?
2. Find a new company and join as an SSE to start over?
3. Find a new company for a lead position?
Please advice.