Lasers or Money?

I've been looking for a new job. Something more interesting. I currently have an offer from Northrop Grumman for a pretty significant amount of money and I would be the team lead for about 5 programmers, but doing the same boring work I have been doing essentially. I have a pseudo-offer from another group at NRL to work on some cool laser junk. The pay would be the same, the work would be more interesting than what I do now, but not what I imagine to be the perfect job. However, it would likely be a step closer to the perfect job, whereas the job at NG would be a good career move up the ladder, but not the right ladder. Not sure what the right move is here. Comments are welcome.