PhD at ML with 4 yoe... Recently interviewed at Google for ML SWE position and currently considering a L4 offer. Thanks to the competing offers, they gave me (I believe) a good offer with 160K base and 500 RSU. L4 seems to be a level lower than the other offers I have and the offer Is slightly lower than the other best two I have. Recruiter told me the HC felt there was not enough signal for L5 ( no real system design questions) and if leveling is important to me I can have a follow-up interview with 2 system design questions. He said the offer can improve easier as well. And I will take it in a couple of weeks. Q1. Based on what I read, the total comp will not change too much unless my other offers also increase. If that is the case, would L4 still be a good option if the follow up interview does not go well. Q2. If the offer will not change too much, is it better to start as L4 to have a less stressful start and learn fast with less pressure. ( I will be changing my domain a bit) My main motivation for changing jobs is improve my skills and get more experience in a new domain ( large scale ML). Having said that, compensation and making impact is clearly very important. @google
*total comp, not package
This is a good offer for 4. Did you share the competing offer details over the phone or send the actual documents?
Well, at this point all my offers are verbal. They still requested some evidence and I shared a screenshot to prove that why claims add up.
Yup, I had to do the same nonsense with Google. Their recruiters are all trained to ask for evidence now which forces you to email document all offers from other companies.
But I have been transparent with all the recruiters and shared the details over the phone. I just wanted to make sure that all the offers were comparable so that I can actually focus on team, domain, job etc.
I’d be worried offer can be revoked due to poor performance on the 2 followups. Make sure you have something in writing that is ironclad if you fail this interview the original still stands.
I see. Based on what you say, I guess it might be a good idea not to take it if I don’t feel prepared.
I’d just be weary about giving HC negative data that’s all. You don’t know what they’d do with it in that potential situation. Sounds like you’re L5 but G is down-leveling you and making you jump through hoops to get proper TC. Why G? Is it the perks and the brand you’re after? There’s lots of other places where you’ll have autonomy to work and lead better projects that won’t downlevel you. G tends to put brilliant engineers on menial tasks and makes promos slower than molasses.