Preface: I'm aware that this decision is really something I'm going to have to figure out for myself. Nevertheless, I thought I'd seek out opinions and see if any others have faced similar situations.
Situation: Working a steady job, at a company I've worked for my entire career, albeit in different jobs in different divisions, with progressively more responsibility. Engineering. Married with 2 young kids, reasonably good income, HCOLA. Early 40s. DW also works full time.
Saving about 60-65% after tax. FIRE is hopefully within 2.5 years, contingent upon geographic arbitrage to a MCOL location I'd rather live in anyway.
The conundrum: My current job is reasonably challenging at times, slow at others, but is near the pinnacle of what I can reach on the technical track. I haven't ever been particularly opposed to getting into management, but also haven't made the leap. A new management position is opening up, and multiple people have commented on how I'd be great for the job. If I applied, there's a reasonable chance I might get it, though it's certainly no guarantee.
Part of me wants to just finish out my sentence in my current job. It still has its challenges, and I know how to do it. On the other hand, the new position could potentially be far more engaging. It could also be a nightmare; I worked in a similar division for two years, and while it was exciting, I was stressed out. Management might be even more stressful. Pay would be higher, but not that much higher (the rumors are that working-level management might make about 10% more). Given the FIRE plan, there's no particular long-term career benefit, though my company often does have opportunities for people who have retired work the occasional project, and the pay is likely related to their final salary.
Has anyone else out there faced a similar decision, or made a job/career change when you knew that FIRE was approaching?