Management and engineering are two different careers, so I wouldn't call it "upgrading".

Having the technical chops definitely helps as a manager. And knowing what the managers expect and be able to talk their language helps as an engineer. If you reach certain level its easy to jump between them. But they require a different set of skills and the work is different.

If you like it, there are a lot of rewards. If you don't, it can be soul-sucking.

No opportunities arose plus office-politics make my stomach turn. Perhaps it is my long stint in a Byzantine multinational that spoiled that path for me.