1 YOE + 2 internships + MS AI/ML + Systems Current position is 30 hrs/week fully remote. Startup with great talent from FAANG, early stage, very capital intensive industry (semiconductor design). Team is friendly and I have great mentorship. I also get $25K yearly worth of stock options. Is the higher pay going to come at the expense of my health? Is it worth it? Should I go for the no name HFT or the resume stamp of meta. Right now I have a very comfortable life - workout 7 days/week. Work outside Cali about 60 days/yr. Take about 20 days PTO. How bad is Meta? It’s my preference right now because of their open source AI efforts and cutting edge tech. Meta is in Meta AI research. Interviewers seemed talented, but worried peers will be antisocial and unfriendly. Commute will be 1hr bus ride each way. HFT is medium latency AI inference + Training Infrastructure. Loved all the people I met - friendly, talented, collaborative. From top firms like Citadel but without the toxicity. Downside is I HATE NYC. GF willing to move but hesitant because she owns in SF. Bonus is a guess. GF is in Finance and makes about $500k. We are planning to get married next year. She owns a 2BR Condo in SF with very low mortgage rate. Hoping to have kids in ~2 years. TC $175K + paper money ####
What would the move be like for GF, apart from her Bay area real estate (career, friends, family, does she like NYC?) If you are planning to have kids soon, do you have family in either place? I would put your relationship and personal life first, the intrinsic interest in the work second, and TC at the bottom of the list. Assuming your GF plans to continue working in the same job, y'all have plenty of money.
Both our families are within 1.5 hrs of NYC
That's an interesting plot twist. Is your GF able to get a similar job in NYC? It sounds like she is very successful here. If the answer is yes, and the main thing keeping you here is the condo, I'd think about selling it and maybe renting in NYC.
You’re early 20s with a gf making 500k? What is age difference? If you’re that serious about the gf then not much point in going to nyc. I would do meta for resume brand value (unless the HFT is like HRT). Then in a couple years when ur more established do whatever you feel like for more TC. Offers might be higher in a couple years also so you might be able to demand like 800k from citadel or something
She’s early 30s, 7 years older. I’m mid 20s. Did MS and worked in non-tech before BS for a few years
TF? when did u two start dating?
What HFT firm? Depending on the place it could be an interesting proposition. Feel free to DM, I have some experience in the HFT space and might have some second hand info on smaller firms. I think based on your criteria Meta isn't actually a bad option. Places like Citadel, HRT, etc. do hire out of Meta and it seems like you'll be doing relevant work. I think it goes without saying that being at an quant firm will help get interviews at other quant firms down the line, moreso than Meta, so you should assess what industry you want to be in.
Don’t want to share name to preserve anonymity.
What is lifestyle like in quant firms. We want to have kids and both keep our jobs. Could I work in quant with 50% responsibility for kids (assuming we could afford a nanny with ~$1m HH TC)
I would stay no question. Your base is high af for fully remote.
Always pick highest tc
Aint all about the money. At a certain point getting more money makes marginal difference in your life and having a job with WLB takes preference
Dumbest advice. You can always make more money if you want. But you will never get back these years spending 60 hours a week at work+commute.
I would join HFT
Do whatever your gf wants
Gf thinks I should follow my dreams and is supportive of all paths. She doesn’t care much if my income is high or low.
Once you have kids, income will matter a lot more, just look up the cost of day care. Also look at health insurance and parental leave benefits. Meta is hard to beat on that.
Dude my suggestion is to take money. Work for couple of years until you decide to get kids. That way you will have enough money and time when you switch to calm job like now. Money may not matter now but it’s needed. So earn while you can.
If your background is AI I would go to Meta AI, it has done some great things and has great ppl there like the famous yan lecun. TC will always be here for the competent people. Do whatever will maximize competence in your area. You have so many more years to earn high TC.
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Why do you hate NYC?
From NYC. I have a lot of trouble sleeping, and nyc it’s basically impossible. Lifestyle also sucks. People eat out and party all the time. I want to go hiking/surfing/golfing/biking with friends, not snort cocaine and get drunk. I’m going for longevity. We are also Christian and we are worried the NYC lifestyle will tempt us away from our religious values.
You can do all of those things in NJ just outside of NYC or CT. Trails in NJ, CT or upstate NY. Can vacation to New Hampshire.