[muzani]

Yup, I did the same thing. What I hated as a manager was that it felt helpless sometimes. I was running a big project with two tech giants, well funded, and we were spending weeks negotiating extra days to the project. I felt like I could have just gone in and fix the problem myself with that time. But someone had to explain the issues. We've had all nighters too - management has to be present and do nothing as moral support.

A big part of it is politics. I think we had fairly good politics - we politely informed one another that we would throw them under the bus, and then have drinks after work apologizing for that. But I'd rather be spending my energy doing something positive rather than writing documentation to appease a party.

On the bright side, it is fun being a "boss". Sort of like those video game bosses where you send minions to do something, where an international team is flown in and still can't fix it. I come in and spend a day or two fixing it while on paternity leave. Of course, it was just assembling the results of the rest of the team; not taking credit for that. But that kind of thing is not appreciated as an engineer.

Being an engineer pays a little better - similar salary + free devices + free repairs. Not as many expensive dinners. No fully sponsored international flights and fancy hotels. But I get to work 8 hours and go home. I get actual time off to work on my own fun projects.