Considering a remote Argo AI offer for SWE II. Currently at Zoox. Argo offer: average yearly TC over 4 years of $380k-$390k at $20B valuation ($200k base, $600k RSU grant, annual + sign on bonuses). TC at Zoox is ~$200k with 2-3 yoe. At Zoox, I really enjoy the interesting work, good WLB, and friendly environment but feeling underpaid relative to the current market. Based on my understanding, Argo would be slightly worse in these first 3 areas but I feel like the huge jump in TC outweighs those cons. Also expecting a promotion at Zoox and to be able to be remote. I also have some offers elsewhere that are sub $300k TC (Nuro, Palantir, Amazon) but not really considering them for various reasons (down-leveling, culture/WLB, in office on the West coast). Would love to get some advice on which option is best. How is working at Argo? What's the WLB and environment like? Odds of a successful IPO? #zoox #argo #argoai #nuro #palantir #amazon
Argo or Nuro > Zoox
Thanks. Can you elaborate more on that? Also how is working at Argo in terms of WLB/culture and IPO prospects?
Honestly Zoox’s platform and product strategy is an incoherent mess not even sure what their GTM strat is. Culture and WLB is team dependent but better than Zoox all around from what I’ve heard with my peers there. Nuro is worth checking out though. Cool tech there
That's a massive TC given their current valuation. If I was to try to convince someone to give up that TC, my argument would be Is that valuation sustainable? If/once they IPO, will their business be strong enough to justify $20B? If there's something we should have learned from the past months it's that the open market can be brutal. Look at Rivian for example. Some friends laughed and told me their TC was close to $800k when the stock was close to the peak. Now they probably make closer to $250-300k. Obviously you also have to think about how you evaluate the ZARs. Open market vs 409a, and $20B vs your strike price for ZARs. Good luck!
I would just rank on cash basis.. Argo is a good offer.. is this l4?
Yes, L4/SWE II
Argo WLB is decent if not good. Of course depends on the org but i would say this a high end L4 offer. Argo is already cash heavy and you pretty much can work from anywhere if you don’t have visa restrictions.
That's a solid L4 offer. Be careful with the equity they quote you a 20B valuation which it obviously isn't today. WLB massively differs across orgs, and onboard vs offboard so it's hard to say. Generally worse the more important your role is to the operation of the car.
Can you elaborate in why you believe Argo is worse in "Interesting work, good WLB, and friendly environment"? I think it is not too hard to advocate for a role/team that fulfill these aspects - just make sure you get a good since of the hiring manager and potential teammate's personalities/mindsets. And set strong personal boundaries off the bat - if you say yes to more work, you'll keep getting more work.
I just feel like my current role is very strong in those aspects. The team I’d be joining is in an area that doesn’t seem as quantitatively driven which is something I’m interested in (but still enough so for me). Also just saw lots of Argo posts talking about poor WLB. Thanks for the advice regarding personal boundaries.
Teamblind Feedback is definitely biased towards negative experiences, and I've heard some teams have had bad WLB - the rule of thumb apparently is "the more crucial your role is to achieving autonomy, the worse the WLB is". At least for me personally I've never had an issue, other than sometimes pushing myself too hard. That being said, my role isn't standing directly in the way of achieving autonomy, so I don't have too many people "breathing down my neck".
Work would be equally if not more exciting at Argo than Zoox. For WLB, it would depend on the team and the manager. Ask HR to set up a call between you and the manager and ask him questions to know his working style.
Op which offer did you accept
Still sitting on the offers. Not done with other companies
I thought you worked at zoox
What area you work on?
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For those voting, could you explain why you voted that way? Thx
The offer is good, I'm skeptical of your listed downsides, and I'm optimistic there will be a lot of good developments for Argo this year. But a lot ultimately depends on your team culture and if you'll like the work you will be doing.
Makes sense, thanks! Is there anything in particular that gives you this optimism? I guess I’m just thinking about some other comparable IPOs like Aurora and TuSimple that haven’t done great