I'm sick of working at Google -- full of coasters, moves so slow, poor decision making and execution across the board. I want to work for at an interesting company that's executing well and has a bright future -- but I really don't want to take a huge comp/benefits cut... All such companies that I'm thinking of (SpaceX, Anduril, OpenAI, Tesla) seem to pay far less according to levels.fyi. Does anyone know if these companies or other interesting good companies will match Google comp for SWEs? Am I better off just leaving and going for L+1. L4, medium CoL, 340k. L5 promo next month.
Meanwhile employee at other companies “😳”
Start a startup with some other Googlers in the “evenings” while coasting.
This is the way
Databricks!
What is CoL ?
cost of living.
Meanwhile people at these other companies are dying to get into Google to be where you are
🍌
AI labs, late-stage startups like Anduril (if you interview well), SpaceX flight software or Tesla Autopilot, HFT/prop trading/quant firms, etc. plenty of options if you’re good
Got offers at multiple companies in the groups you listed, and my Anduril offer was not impressive. As expected the highest offers were trading firms and surprisingly Tesla Autopilot. Databricks is also good if you are fine with paper money. Databricks, Tesla, Roblox, Snowflake, etc. will definitely blow 340k out of the water.
OpenAI will throw that Google offer out of the way like a tennis ball On a different note, 340k for L4 in medium col sounds great. How are you so confident about your promo?
Yes comp is high for level/location, I contribute tons of code and decisions to some important projects and luckily have very strong support from manager / director. My rating was T and also received lots of discretionary equity for last 2 yrs. I've been assured promo is very likely so I believe director will defend me in people discussion if there's any resistance.