Google L4 vs Startup Offer （help needed）
My dear blind community, Some help needed here, recently got 3 offers: one is from Google, one is from former googler startup, one from a medium sized public company (not well known). Google and startup seem to do the similar HW product development. So it's likely the startup may be acquired by google along the road. Google offer: 145k +15% bonus + 100k RSU/ 4 years + 20k sign-on (initial offer) Startup offer: 160 k + 250k / 4 years stock option (series A), no bonus mentioned (final offer) medium sized company offer (HW company) 175k + 10% bonus + 100 k RSU/ 4 years (final offer) Background: HW engineer, EE PhD, 3.5 yoe, location Bay area, current TC 140k @ NY Thoughts: 1. Google offer really impressed by people in Google and startup and Google is a great stepping stone for future career path. Current package is initial offer, not sure how far it can be negotiated. Lots of benefits (good WLB, 401k, food, RSU refresher etc). How will RSU refresher be negotiated? What is the range for Google L4 HW (i understand it's half or less compared to SWE) 2. Startup offer they are doing exciting project, but base is not going any higher, just have concerns about having 160k base for a few more years. Not sure if it's enough to support family. 3. medium-sized company offer: Highest TC so far, but company is not well known, i know for sure i won't stay in this company for more than 3 years. So i will definitely start look for new opportunities, by having this company's name in my resume doesn't help much. Current preference: either google with more TC or start up with more options. What do you suggest? Thanks in advance! #googlesalary #startups
Make it a poll?
good idea!
G. The equity seems so low. Any room to bump it? Google is at ATH so you could see it fall. Use start up equity offer.
yeah, i agree. but this is initial offer, so i guess there's room for negotiation. Given base salary is bounded by levels, maybe RSUs is more flexible. But given I am HW, not sure how much more can be pushed. Any ideas?
I think you’ve got the idea. Push equity, offer keeping the base as a concession. My FB recruiter told me RSUs are much easier to move when I was negotiating.
Is that an L3 offer from Google ?
from HR, they said this is L4 position, but in HW department. Do you know what a L4 range is in G? thanks
for PhD +3.5 yoe, it should be L4 right?
I’ll pick google, low risk and medium return.
since i will be living in bay area for quite while if i take any of these offers, do you think G's ~200k TC is enough to support a family? currently just me and my gf, we definitely want kids in 2 years
You’re not going to feel rich, but your TC will grow overtime and many people making it with much less
Take startup
Pick Google, you will learn the best practices and your resume would have FAANG validation. You could always move to start up in one year. But your hand would be much better when you would negotiate package, also helps if your start up eventually gets acquired.
only had to read your post title, choose google duh
Google.
Can someone share rivos offer for mid level engineer
I’ve done 12 years at Google and 12 years at 4 different startups, and I can’t give you a one size fits all answer. Obviously a startup has a lot of uncertainty. Don’t count on the options ever being worth anything. Expect to be paid the salary and if the options pan out consider that a bonus. On the other hand, Google has a fair share of uncertainty too. You experience there can vary a lot based on your team, your manager, and many other factors out of your control. If you do want the opportunity to have more impact in the direction of the company and are ok with the salary and risk, do the startup. But if you just want the TC, do Google or the other company.
Thank you for your thoughts. I do want to have more impact on product. So I am leaning towards startup even with the risk of have no options in the end. However for google, initial TC is close to 200k, not sure how far it can go from there. Do you think 40k difference between 160k startup and ~200k TC google is worth trying startup? I mean everyone has a number to go or not go with startup. For example, if startup offers 160k +10k option/ 4 years compared to Google 200k TC, I will not go with startup. From a financial standpoint, what equity difference would you recommend to compensate the uncertainty of startup? Thanks
You really need to decide what you are comfortable with. I worked at four startups and none of them made me rich. I did learn a lot from them though, and startups can be an exciting ride. I do know people that hit it big at startups and don’t need to work anymore. Since I don’t know anything about the startup you are talking to, you are in a much better position to figure the odds than I.