Is QA Team Lead a career dead end?

Question

Software testing

Greetings, colleagues!
I am 40 years old, I have already worked as a QA team leader in several places. I have reached the salary cap for my position, I also have enough knowledge in both management and test automation. In principle, I want something new, to move somewhere else. Tried to post my resume to CTO - silence.
I have the impression that in CTO they "raise" either from developers or from project managers. I have never seen a test leader rise above his position.
I know that there will certainly be advice to become a developer. But, I confess, at my age I don’t want to just write code - I already do it when automating testing.
My question is how do I develop my career to move forward? And isn't my position a dead end?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

Answer 1

Hello:
1) Go to work as a QA Lead in a large company, a bank. In fact, to get involved in rallies and work with personnel. You can get good money, why not.
2) Initially set up QA for startups. It is quite difficult to make a bunch of test-rail / jenkins / tests / tails on the API side from scratch, so they are ready to pay good money for it (but not for long
)
3) Go to managers and management . And then grow to more fat positions. I have not seen that QA is assigned to CTO, yet the depth of knowledge required is completely different.
4) Leave the CTO to non-core companies (not IT companies), where, against the background of siss and enikeys, you will be a cool, competent specialist.
5) Open your tester school, drive around in a hybrid Lexus and talk about how cool it is to be a tester (those who understand the analogy, like it)

Answer 2

I have reached the salary cap for my position

Have you already been to Google? QA team lead?

Answer 3

no, it's just that the next step is not a technical position, but an administrative one, that's all.

Answer 4

Is QA Team Lead a career dead end?

Have you already reached your career peak?
Are you a QA Team Lead - Netflix or Google?

Answer 5

a developer junior has more chances to become a CTO than a tester team leader))

Answer 6

knowledge is also enough in management and test automation

what hinders in Enterprise / Business automation software?

Answer 7

As a practicing beast, I ask you: do you really want this? The higher the position, the more politics.