[RogerL]

What is the C# role doing? Is it moving your career/knowledge forward in any way (other than learning C#)?

It just seems like an odd choice (C#) given what you want to do. Scientific computing is C++, Fortran, and Python, along with some Matlab, R, maybe Julia. A ton of machine learning is in R and Python. Of course Java is heavily used in data analytics due to Hadoop, so C## will help you there.

But really, it's pretty trivial to learn a language. C# is a fantastic language, but it seems that it is likely that your role will be taking you further away from your future plans, not nearer them.

I don't feel super strongly about either choice, other than pick the work that is most interesting, rather than pick based on language. I'm posting mostly because all other replies are pro C# at the moment, and I wanted to offer a contrast.

[3am_hackernews]

I think you pointed out my only concern quite well.

The C# role is mainly developing application level software which would talk to the C/C++ drivers and such. This C# will be fitted into another framework which is the top level platform.

Can you please elaborate on this "But really, it's pretty trivial to learn a language. C# is a fantastic language, but it seems that it is likely that your role will be taking you further away from your future plans, not nearer them."

As people have pointed out, learning a new language seems definitely like a good addition to the skill set, but I wouldn't want to do it at the expense of pigeon holing myself.

TL;DR: I am not sure if I should become better in C/C++ or pick up C#?

[vonmoltke]

Java gets quite a bit of use in ML as well.

[pjmlp]

C# is used a lot in health sciences.