u/Beautiful-Excuse-691

Looking for outside perspective on a career decision I'm stuck on

Background:

• Mid-career, ~4 years experience
• Software-leaning skill set: Python, Bash, automation, infrastructure scripting
• Past role was at a server ODM doing test infrastructure for a major hyperscaler customer — automation, RTP validation, network boot infrastructure, switch provisioning

I have two options on the table:

Option A — Senior System Integration Test (SIT) Engineer at an ODM (current job, started recently):

• Higher base salary, bonus eligibility.
• System-level integration test work for AI rack platforms (current project is GPU-based AI infrastructure).
• Scope covers full stack: firmware updates, OS installation, full system bring-up including CUDA, DOCA, drivers.
• GPU validation suites.
• BIOS/BMC testing, network testing, transceiver testing — all script-driven on Linux.
• Building internal R&D automation test frameworks.
• Stable, on-site, reasonable hours

Option B — Server Operations Engineer at a major hyperscaler:

• Lower base, no bonus, but free meals
• Fleet operations work — servers lifecycle management at scale
• Server breakfix, provision, validation, deployment, fleet check, datacenter operations, datacenter decomission.
• Better work-life balance, more chill culture per friends already there.
• Campus is really nice.

Will hyperscaler infrastructure/operations roles still be in demand 5-10 years out, or is this a field that gets squeezed as automation matures?

Anyone made a similar decision? How did it pan out?