Facebook M2 vs DataBricks Sr SDM

Jun 10, 2021 37 Comments

I'm still negotiating my comp at either places, but I expect DB to have ~10-15% higher comp (pre-ipo paper money). I expect FB comp will be about ~650k range based on few friends who joined recently at same level. Currently Sr Manager with 580K TC (cliffing to 450k in one year), 18 yoe.

I'm looking for advice on which one to join. FB is well-established and M2 there carries good weight, however it is a cut throat environment with high stress and relatively low growth (both stock price and title wise). DataBricks is a smaller, late-stage startup with potential (no guarantees, of course) 2-3x payout if the IPO is successful; plus growth in title may be faster due to it's smaller size.

Google down-leveled me to L6 (equivalent to FB M1), so I'm not considering that one and haven't even bothered to negotiate TC since going to line manager there is not interesting to me.

Still awaiting result from Confluent. DB seem like a better play since Confluent has already filed S1.

Thoughts on what should I consider between FB and DataBricks? I'm not creating a poll, I want to hear your thoughts instead of a binary response.

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TOP 37 Comments
  • Amazon
    tomriddlev

    Go to company page Amazon

    tomriddlev
    M2 can go till 925k at FB. Try to get that and you wonโ€™t need to think anything else.
    Jun 9, 2021 2
    • OP
      Really, 925K TC each year? That seems insane.. do you know what the breakdown between base/bonus and stocks would look like in that case?

      My understanding is 300k base, 25% target bonus. To get to 925k, that would mean getting 550k per year stocks, or $2.2 million stocks at join time?!
      Jun 9, 2021
    • Amazon
      tomriddlev

      Go to company page Amazon

      tomriddlev
      ~275K base. 25% bonus. ~2M stocks.
      Jun 9, 2021
  • Facebook / Eng
    prto480_q

    Go to company page Facebook Eng

    prto480_q
    M2 has good chance of AE, which can run few hundred K, and refreshers are pretty good as well. High performing M2 can net 1m +. Advancement to D is difficult. But vision is not M2 scope, execution is M1 and below. So M2 is at sweet spot.
    Jun 9, 2021 8
    • Facebook / Eng
      trvg-397

      Go to company page Facebook Eng

      trvg-397
      (Changed name, prto was me) One can always ask but I am not sure if that affects outcome too much. AE is more used as a retention tool. Refresher is more directly linked to performance and is strictly formulaic.

      AE can be used to offset a few pay disparities for high performers. Like if someone is nearing 4th year cliff. Or new hires are being paid more due to market conditions. Or the person is outperforming greatly but not immediately eligible for promotion for some reason.
      Jun 13, 2021
    • Facebook / Eng
      trvg-397

      Go to company page Facebook Eng

      trvg-397
      The lower the level, the less chance you have to get AE. I havenโ€™t been here long enough to have real data points. For M1/E6 sounds like it is possible to get 1 to offset cliff if you donโ€™t get promotion. Some people talk about getting 1 more before cliff but seems much rarer comparing to M2.
      Jun 13, 2021
  • I'm a lowly E6, but I would say go Databricks. Very smart people there (mostly Berkeley profs/PhDs, and ex-G senior engineers), and IPO is looking very promising.
    Jun 9, 2021 0
  • Databricks is going to ๐Ÿš€. FB is a boring company to work at especially as an M2. Take the chance at a company thatโ€™s close to IPO and learn much more than youโ€™d ever learn at FB โ€ฆ at FB the only thing you learn as an M2 is how to navigate FBโ€™s broken culture
    Jun 10, 2021 3
    • I feel like if youโ€™re coming in at the Sr. Director level at a startup and the company growth isnโ€™t listed as part of your evaluation criteria, itโ€™s a bad fit for you. FB is much more stable and youโ€™ll fit in better.
      Jun 13, 2021
    • To clarify, growth in title and comp are bad reasons to join a non-FAANG
      Jun 13, 2021
  • Google
    hose

    Go to company page Google

    hose
    Is DS senior manager L7?
    Jun 10, 2021 4