Thanks for the responses so far. I'm going to pick up my Mil Equivalent CFII here in the next couple months. Then the plan is to fly multi's at a local FBO to get some time built and instruct a bit once I'm proficient again.

I'm checking in with classmates and old squadron buddies at the manufacturers and still gathering information about which way is the best to go, but I like to keep my options open. Pumping my network so to speak. Knowing the test world, and after talking to some bros in the airlines, the airlines offer the QoL that I'm really looking for...I think. I'm not discounting any course of action and I love flying flight test, but I was happiest with work/life balance when flying the line hauling cargo all over the world and not worrying about 50 other qweepy side job/admin things. The manufacturers test jobs seem like just another extension of active duty at this point, and that doesn't interest me so much, but I may be wrong.