Got an offer from SpaceX and Palantir and waiting for Product Area Alignment from Google (returning intern) for new grad SWE roles. - I’ve heard SpaceX has terrible WLB, but aggressive career growth. Not a huge fan of LA. - I’ve heard Palantir’s TC is good with reasonable WLB, but I’ve never really heard of them outside the research I’ve done leading up to the application. - Google’s long conversion process + their recent layoffs have been a turn off. Very unlikely I get an offer in time of my other deadlines and reneging seems like a bad idea. Which one is better for early TC and long term growth? Don’t really care about the type of work or WLB. I want to get paid well for my work, have minimal anxiety about being laid off in 3 months, and have more opportunities for long term growth. #new-grad #newgrad #software #swe #engineering
Google. Speaking as ex pltr.
Any strong opinions as to why? Also see you are ex-SpaceX?
I spent many years at palantir, have done both swe and fde. I’ve seen it all. It is not a good place for early career people, period. Unless you get very very lucky with finding a mentor
What's ur university rank/region
T50 in CS
Lol
Join SpaceX if you're looking for phenomenal early career impact and thrive on challenging work. Couldn't ask for better colleagues. I turned down Google and other big names to come here. Zero regrets. WLB ebbs and flows but tbh I was working similar hours for a unicorn startup internship during college. It's the nature of innovation. And I'm the only one among my friends now that doesn't complain about monotonous, braindead work. Also my first year new grad comp ends up at $230K at today's share price - equity appreciation is expected to remain phenomenal and company does 2x a year buybacks. I plan to hold on to my equity for a while. Wish base was a little higher though.
Thank you for sharing! I definitely agree that the work at SpaceX is more interesting at least for me personally, and just wish their comp was higher. How would you describe the comp progression through promos and how often does it occur? Also, do you know if they would be willing to negotiate? I appreciate your insight and time
is pal swe or fde
SWE
I would definitely go Palantir then. Google is not a good place to join right now (you can always apply in a few years once the layoffs stop). SpaceX doesn't pay well (where as Palantir pays new grads very well). Palantir is a very good place to work as a SWE, it's the FDE side that's gets the bad rep. Your experience can depend on the team you end up on, but every company is like this. People are more or less universally great, smart and kind. And you will learn a lot quickly. There's a reason Palantir has a much higher proportion of tenured 8+ year people than the rest of the industry. People tend to stay (at least in PD) because it's a good place to work with lots of autonomy and low bureaucracy.
Depends on what teams you're joining and what direction you want to go in your career. Since it's blind I'm just assuming it's software related by default. But application software vs flight software or GNC are a big difference.
Thank you for your insight! How would you describe SpaceX's comp progression beyond the new grad role? Does it even out quickly (my perception being that SpaceX has aggressive career growth paths given high impact and scope)
I think getting to level 2 is quick. After that it's pretty hard to progress. Most people ride on their stock appreciation but nobody can guarantee that
Obviously SpaceX. Palantir was good pre-IPO, now it’s nothing special. DM if you want specifics. Ppl on blind love to bash Elon companies and “WLB”, but I would choose to work at SpaceX over pretty much any other company (and I had multiple FAANG and HFT offers as a new grad back when the job market was good).
pltr, make it a poll
Any strong opinions as to why?
Take Palantir and renege for Google if you end up getting a return offer