10-year Canadian public sector dev — considering VDP to explore private sector. Crazy or calculated?

Looking for some perspective from people who’ve made public to private transitions.

I’ve been a software developer/architect in the Canadian federal public service for 10 years. Stable job, good team, interesting enough work. Not bilingual (which caps upward mobility internally).

I have the option to opt into a voluntary departure program that gives me:

•	120 days to choose between:

•	a healthy buyout, or

•	a 12-month surplus period where I remain employed and have priority placement for other government roles.

•	Realistically, I’d only be unemployed if I fail to secure anything within \~16 months.

My plan would be:

•	Spend the 120 days aggressively interviewing in the private sector.

•	If I land something materially better (comp, growth, tech exposure), take the buyout.

•	If not, take surplus and remain safely employed.

I have a young family and value stability — but I also suspect I’m underpaid relative to market and curious what my skills are worth externally.

For those who’ve left long-term public roles:

•	Was the compensation jump worth the risk?

•	How different was engineering culture?

•	Anything you underestimated (stress, layoffs, pace, expectations)?

Trying to assess whether this is a smart asymmetric bet or me being restless.