Moving from a SQL Monkey role into an ML Engineering role

I know, I know, this sub thinks of getting into a well-paid SQL monkey role as winning a lottery.

My problem is that the higher-ups saw me as the most talented SQL monkey on the team, and "promoted" me into a team lead role where I now have to manage 10 other SQL monkeys, and regularly interact with lots of unpleasant people in the company. I have lasted for a couple of years but honestly I just can't take it …

datascience engineering moving promoted role sql team ups