6 years from FI, took a risk using external offer to leverage internal promotion.

35f, 3.5m NW, DI2K, 6 years from FI. Spouse has a stable but lower paying job. (~$100k)

In process of leveraging an external offer to get promoted internally, or I jump ($200k->$260k vs $275k).

I like my current job; making around $200k all in as a mechanical engineer IC lead at a non-tech public company where I’ve been for 5+ years as a top performer and am well liked by peers and leadership. This year has been unusually strong so I’m closer to $260k all-in after bonus/equity. I’ve been promised a promotion to management (would have 4-5 report to me) that would put me around the same for avg total comp. However, it’s been a frustrating multiple months, and the boss’s boss has indicated they’d prefer a flatter org and has pushed back on my boss as they’ve advocated for me.

Out of nowhere a couple months ago, I got approached for an external role offering $275k all-in as an individual contributor at a smaller but still public company.

The catch is it’s tied to a newer strategic direction labeled as a start up so there’s some risk. I don’t expect it to be more hours than I work now (45 hrs/week). Both roles are remote, but the new company has a more flexible policy with multiple senior leadership working remote (vs current where 95% employees are in office).

Told my boss about the verbal offer before I even got the physical letter (taking a risk but knowing company moves slow). Boss took it seriously, escalated to the their boss same day. Feedback from my boss’s boss was they are open to promoting me, but the org is moving slowly, approval has to come from the CEO (another level up), and anything formal via HR will take a few weeks.

Physical offer is supposed to arrive this week, and I’ll have a few days after that to respond. Plan is to send the letter to my company to produce something written before I decide. If they can’t move in time, I’ll likely make the jump.

Not really looking for advice but I’ll take some luck…

I probably could have coasted, because the difference in the new job and existing is probably only 1-2 years, but I will probably keep working after I hit FI anyways.