Mastering the craft; is it time to move on?

Bit of an over dramatic title but it captures the mood of what I'm trying to communicate.

• Tldr; I'm not learning anything new in my current job and I'm teaching / mentoring other colleagues. To add to this I've been chronically underpaid for the last 4 years and I've been fulfilling the duties of a senior engineer for the last 2 years.

I have been chronically underpaid in my current role for several years. The last 2 I've fulfilled the duties of a senior optomechanical engineer. The company isn't inclined to promote me and I've been teaching other colleagues (who often earn more than myself) optomechanics. I knew I was underpaid but I've only learned the extent in the last month, an 63% increase would bring me in line with what my duties and responsibilities are now. I was so passionate about what I was doing I never noticed.

My niche is optomechanics. It's a fairly small niche and it's even smaller in Ireland.

I've only ever worked with one other optomech engineer that was in my last job in Eindhoven, right now I've been the only optomechanical engineer at my current job for th last 4 years. I want to get better at the craft but I've reached the limit at where I currently work, I'm teaching the other guys more so than doing anything new or learning from a lead engineer.

Currently I think theres possibly 4 potential paths ahead:  • I stay here and see if I get moved up to senior optomechanical engineer and get more involved in driving and steering the technology. I don't think that's very likely at this time, the company has unfortunately got quite top heavy with upper management and I didn't get a good reception when I suggested this in an informal discussion recently. Not good as in promoting and paying me more, they didn't stop talking about how much they loved my work.  • I look for new opportunities and opening elsewhere in optomechanical engineering and be more open to where I move to. It'll likely be outside of Ireland and away from my family.  • I try something else and see if I like a different field. I've been able to turn my hand to just about all ends of the processes in optomechanics; design, machining, testing/metrology so i could probably take those things to a different field.  • I try and start my own thing and work freelance or as a consultant for a while.

I'm truly passionate about optomechanical engineering and optics. Mastering the craft the same way any apprentice would master their trade was something that has really motivated me.