[Kyragem]

Don't do it!!!! Based on my personal experiences, you will regret this.

I was a tenure track faculty, got tenure, then I also go the industry itch. Fortunately was given the opportunity to to spend my sabbatical at Google Research, which was insightful, but I was very glad to return to academia knowing that I couldn't last a day longer in industry. Being stuck in a cubicle with 3 other engineers having to attend meeting after meeting working on things that did not interest me the least. 1.5 hours lunches while being stuck on that campus from like 7 to 7 and I was bored out of my skull. Academia offers unlimited freedom, a freedom that you will only value when being stuck working from 9-5 job on someone else's ideas instead of your own. For me, pursuing my own research at my own pace is the ultimate motivation and I simply can't be bothered working on projects whose only goal is to make money. Working with students and seeing them grown is also very rewarding. I will never leave academia.

[raphlinus]

I vouched for your comment but suffice it to say it doesn't match my experience. Being on the right team and having the right project makes a lot of difference. Way too many meetings is definitely a common problem at Google but you also don't have to be completely passive and helpless about it either.

In any case, glad you have found your niche in academia! Working with students is indeed rewarding - I've gotten to do some through Summer of Code, but academia is definitely a better place if that's your passion.