Google Brain vs. new JP Morgan AI team?

Google
zark

Go to company page Google

BIO
google brain
zark
Mar 4, 2019 101 Comments

Hey,

Considering a tough choice right now. Currently L3 at Google Brain, 1.5YoE.

Brain Pros:
- top tier colleagues
- interesting work
- huge growth and learning opportunities
- 190k TC

Brain Cons:
- underpaid and overworked
- not sure of career path if I don’t go for a PhD

JPM AI pros:
- very nascent org, so huge potential upside on impact
- better hours than Brain probably
- 350k TC (I don’t think I could reach this number anywhere else within 2 years....)

JPM Cons:
- way less interesting work
- quality of codebase and colleagues is a crapshoot
- way more bureaucracy (but if I can wade through it, lots of potential impact?)

Essentially... is 350k enough for me to “sell out”? Ideally I’d want to optimize for growth and be learning a balanced skill set that isn’t just academic research but isn’t just applying SOTA to cut and dry business problems. But I also am frustrated with TC at Brain and ladder mobility.

Would appreciate advice as I’m still fairly early into my career.

comments

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TOP 101 Comments
  • 200k 1.5 yoe underpaid
    what the fuck have you been smoking kiddo, do you realize your value to the company especially during the first year is likely negative? you barely started proving some value and already got on the highest horse you could find.

    to answer your actual question - i’d stay at google, non zero chance jp morgan will soon realize you all produce nothing of value and lay you off, close off the department or follow some new stupid trend.
    Mar 4, 2019 12
    • Google / Eng
      Mr Glass

      Go to company page Google Eng

      Mr Glass
      Yeah old guy, don't be bitter that a new grad can double his comp in a year today. It's all about impact now, young people can tolerate non-comfy high pressure deliverables and not complain. Sure, he can retire at Microsoft after a decade after he gets a family and has kids 😉
      Mar 6, 2019
    • he’s at google so retired already.
      Mar 6, 2019
  • Google
    SWE5

    Go to company page Google

    SWE5
    That is a huge difference in comp
    Mar 4, 2019 0
  • Google
    topCon

    Go to company page Google

    topCon
    For that raise? Fuck yeah
    Mar 4, 2019 0
  • Uber
    LpKD74

    Go to company page Uber

    LpKD74
    Look like you have already decided. Stay at brain if you are a superstar who will do a PhD in near future. Otherwise, higher TC always.
    Mar 4, 2019 0
  • Uber
    LpKD74

    Go to company page Uber

    LpKD74
    Just so you don't ruin a good opportunity, go with JP Morgan. If you want a balanced skillset and not just academic research, you will learn more there. Keep in mind two things for the world of finance:
    1. Go in with an open mindset. The skills you learn in finance will serve you much more than any technical chop you can pick up at Brain in the long term.
    2. They can and will fire you next year. That is why your TC is high. They might even pay you for an extra year after firing you depending on what projects you are on. It is normal and not a bad thing.
    Mar 4, 2019 1
    • Google
      zark

      Go to company page Google

      BIO
      google brain
      zark
      OP
      job stability / security is something I’ve never even given a second thought to in tech cus.... well, tech. More to consider, thanks for mentioning it!
      Mar 4, 2019