Hot self-driving car startups vs. FANG
I've begun interviewing with a couple of self-driving car startups and wanted to get people's take on leaving or turning down on offer from a FANG company for the AV startup route. I'd really love to work in the AV space but am concerned if it makes financial sense. Current TC: L5 @ $300k / $180k base I expect to get around the same base from the startups but not sure how to evaluate stock options at these companies at $2-3 billion valuations with 3-400 employees vs. public RSUs. I'm trying to determine my interviewing schedule strategy: whether I should just continue with the interviews that I've been invited to then evaluate or go full-on and begin interviewing at the other FANGs, Waymo, Uber ATG, Lyft L5, + all AV startups to ensure I do get the best offer. If AV startups offer great stock for their respective stages, I'd rather hold off on interviewing for the others and save those for the near future. Anyone know what can I expect from Cruise, Argo, Aurora, Zoox?
Av is hype. Those paper money will be real paper at the end.
The main applications of AI are the free oines. AI: redefining snake oil for computer scientists for almost 70 years!
Why do you say hype? Maybe the time horizon is a little optimistic but feels like the technology is almost there in certain geographies. Nonetheless, the automakers are sold on it for now and there are plenty of M&As - opportunity to get a nice return, no?
Cruise used to pay its "stocks" in real money but sadly not anymore. Base you can get easily. TC you would need to do some negotiation.
What do you mean by this? What do they give now instead of "'stocks' in real money"?
Cruise used to give GM RSUs, now they give Cruise RSUs which is illiquid. This can be a better deal is Cruise goes IPO and is successful. If they fail then RSU worth would be 0.
Go for it. It’s the future of sustainable economy.
what companies with $2bn valuation is issuing options?
I'm only at the onsite stages atm so don't know but how else could they lure employees away from FANG?
RSUs of course. given your lack of understanding you can safely give a dollar value of 0 to any startup “options”
Considering how hard it is to build self driving vehicles does anyone think newer startups in this area will be successful. Maybe Waymo, Cruise, Uber, Lyft will be successful. Do others like Argo, Aurora, Zoox have a chance?
I’d put a bet on zoox vs lyft to be honest. Lyft program is really in its infancy last i heard
Zoox is up there with Waymo and Cruise in terms of progress. I feel it will be one of those three.
I’m also interviewing at couple AV companies. OP were you able to get good offers?
Are you generalist SWE or do you have (legit) vision/ML experience? What’s the role?
Specific - system / embedded software + computer vision experience
Those companies can pay top dollar ($500k+) for the right talent and experience. They can pay in options or RSU depending...but why would you want to put off interviews? Get the best competing offers you can IMO.