Recently got offers from zoox and lucid, base salaries are quite close. Lucid offers more RSU values. How to choose? Which company has better culture and better environment?
Yeah go to zoox
What’s up at Lucid?
Location? TC?
Poll
Zoox probably has the culture advantage and will feel more like you're working in "tech." Lucid in many ways feels more like a traditional automotive company than a tech company, and approval of senior leadership is low. WLB will be highly team-dependent but overall likely better at Zoox. Outlook depends on your perspective. While Lucid's long-term outlook is questionable, remember that Zoox is still a very long way from launching their product in any meaningful capacity. They also lost a ton of talent after Amazon bought them a few years back (for next to nothing btw) including many key leaders, which should tell you something about how those insiders view the outlook. Much of that talent went to Waymo, which is not only WAY further ahead in terms of AV, but is also quietly working with outside partners like Geely to develop a purpose-built car of their own. Yes, very much like what Zoox and Cruise are doing. Contributing to a tangible product that actually makes it into customers' hands, and that others can see driving down road, may also give you more personal satisfaction and greater resume recognition in the future. I'm sure I will get some flak from the Kool-Aid drinkers at Zoox for these last few points. :) P.S. - I would highly encourage you to consider your future manager in this equation too. This is something that way too many people overlook, and working under an incompetent or toxic manager really sucks.
I would say a pretty objective analysis from someone who I guess never worked at Zoox. Yes we lost of bunch of talent to Waymo but we hired a lot of new good people. Also Tesla is way ahead in terms of EV but it’s not like Lucid is shutting down their operations. Oh BTW we are already running our product on public roads.
Tesla is far ahead in some aspects, Lucid has a second-mover advantage in others. "Running our product on public roads" = testing in a few tiny low-risk, geofenced areas with predetermined routes. Not remotely the same as having real customer cars on the road and getting excited texts from your friends/family when they start seeing the car you worked on in their neighborhood on the other side of the country. Not shitting on Zoox, it has its own merits but it is not without its relative drawbacks. Lucid ain't perfect either, in fact I'm planning to leave soon.
Lucid is bad
Both are “if” they make it….so choose wisely. Lucid you can 💰 cash out and has a value. Zoox has 2 year cliff….some amazon stock for bridge but very hardcore right now to meet goals and no room for slack. Remember, the VP and team you get in matters alot. So also check those for both companies.
Lucid is terrible
Zoox 100%
Zoox is working on one product. Easier to understand your impact and makes for a better working culture. We aren’t tied to extraneous deadlines for shipping this yet, we’re following our roadmap / milestones we put on the board.