Can I get some advice?
I am currently working at an Aerospace shop. It was was one of them unicorn shops till the owner passed 10 years ago from the stories ive been told. All the guys working here have been here 20 plus years, are super skilled and have decided I am worthy of being taught. His son took over and it was still one of the best place to be, but he sold the company to large private aerospace company shortly after I was hired. It was fine for about 2 years, but not the corporate side of things is getting to me. I have learned a shit ton, I am given tons of opportunities and my direct management and I have fantastic repor. The corporate side of things has now cut our bonus down to sad percentages of what it was. The raise numbers are set to comically small percentage and resulted in me getting the smallest raise I've ever have while still obtaining "maximum percentage of growth." They are killing off the job shop, highly technical work. They want production line Kaisan LTA work. Thats the business model. much less fulfilling for me, and not something I want even if im not stuck in the line of opororations but helping develop the lines. My previous job has offered me a position at a 4 dollar raise, but with no opportunity overtime. I was working 46-50 hours a week before all the changes but im not barely over 40 with my current morale. This other shop is much much smaller. I know the owner well and like him. The reasons I left the shop have all been resolved since leaving. They want to bring me back in as their lead machinist, setting up their new machines and developing their part numbers. I also help with product design with them, create manufacturing drawings, and would have a good amount of pull. The set growth model their seems to outpaced my current place of employment. So I guess whay I am asking is, do you guys think I should stick corporate or go more "mom and pop"? Is it worth sticking it out and learning everything I can from the old timers who are teaching me and developing skills in machining, or is it better to go somewhere else where I will fill more of an "engineering" role over time?
Thank you in advance. Just need some outside advice from someone who isn't affiliated one way or the other.