(for a friend) Currently working in Intel, got an offer from Nvidia and Microsoft, some details and considerations below: - Nvidia paying ~133k for senior software engineer, Microsoft 113k for level 60 sde - nvidia team is Cuda chips driver team and Microsoft is display kernel development team in wdg - prefer work and team culture more in nvidia judging from teams that interviewed - nvidia 10k signing bonus, Microsoft 15k signing bonus and 15k worth stocks - nvidia location is Santa Clara, while Microsoft is redmond (cost of living, tax, etc.) - much less perks in nvidia vs Microsoft - possibly better work life balance in microsoft, but he is highly motivated for good work so prefers nvidia here - harder to move across teams in nvidia vs Microsoft eventually or if he doesn't like team - moving to nvidia is easier since already close to bay area - ex nvidia employee so environment would be more familiar and already worked in Cuda before - nvidia in Santa Clara, so better weather than Seattle. Also better opportunities for other companies for his profile. Money-wise Microsoft seems like the better option, but team and work-wise it's probably Nvidia (but Microsoft is not far behind in work quality from what he felt. The manager just tried to oversell the team and people didn't seem as friendly) Any other factors you add might help in deciding. Or some gossip about either of these teams :)
The level looks wrong. That won't guarantee rapid promos, mainly in WDG. Would recommend Nvidia at this time.
Yep. Several years in and I've realized how bad it was to come in under leveled.
how's the scene in wdg and graphics org these days? I'm the guy this post is about btw .. Also although Nvidia senior software engineer does not equate to MS senior software engineer .. but the MS listing was for an SDE 2 i.e. L61. NV on the other hand is giving the correct grade level (IC 3) Nvidia grade levels are flatter and go from IC 1 (college grads) to IC 6 or 7 also any thoughts on bay area vs Seattle?
No RSU from Nvidia?
nope
Then use that competing offer to get more stock from MS. I know people who got 60-75k stock at L59 with competing offer.
Microsoft is known to bring at least a level lower. How many years of experience do you have? I believe Cuda work is more future proof. I don't know the levels in nvidia so I can't relate to l60 in msft. In Microsoft usually undergrads are brought in at 59, ms(sometimes) or less than 4 years experience is 60. Microsoft title change happens at every odd number: SDE 59,60. SDE II 61, 62 senior SDE 63,64 then title change every 3 levels
I see, 3 years in nvidia and a masters in cs
Arent you in ms already? (mugenzora), you should know the lvl systems and tell your friend about it?
Stay in Bay Area
any insights from Nvidia folks here? Again the team is CUDA chips driver team .. level IC 3 and offer is 133k + 10k bonus .. no RSUs no annual perf bonus etc.
Seems weird to get offered a senior job at nvda and an L60 (junior) job at msft. You were likely under-leveled at msft, which should mean rapid promotions and pay increases as they realize their mistake. Senior at msft is L63 and 150ish base.
Keep looking for a new job and stay in the valley.
From what he tells me senior in nvidia is a very wide band, so we shouldn't compare it with senior at ms. But yes, I would expect it to be at least 61 equivalent here no matter how vague the designation "senior" is.