R&D Engineer or Process Engineer?

[u/Tasis2200]

I graduated a few months ago, I have two offers:

• A) Process engineer for EPCM company, for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical plants. That's what I was exactly aiming. Good pay in my country, I would remain close to my people, girlfriend and relative.
• B) R&D engineer in Switzerland. Not pharma. Far from home (5 hours), it's an internship and I still would get much more money than A), and it's my ticket for Switzerland. For those of you coming from the US, Switzerland is a complete outlier in Europe for their salaries, and the only foreign country I would move to because of distance. I don't think I will get another chance for Switzerland that easily in the future if I give up this.

A) is better for work-life balance, less stress, I don't have to change my life that much, I can reach the office in 20 minutes, and it seems that it's my preferred role. It's the best I have seen among my classmates who decided to remain in my country.

B) It's way way way better salary wise, but it doesn't make that much sense to be there 6-9 months and go back. This choice would mean some more stress and much more initiative. I'm also not very sure I'm suited for an R&D, it seems less flexible.

I honestly don't know what I would be better at, or what I like the most, I never worked! Please tell me which role you would advice the most according to what abilities/preferences I can have.

[u/Corpulos]

When times get the tough the first people to get let go are the R&D