Crowdsourcing a Job Title

New
engineerDa

New

engineerDa
Jan 17 12 Comments

So, I'm in the verge of accepting an offer to become the first EE hire at a startup. The position is currently Senior EE - Embedded Systems with the role being to design and produce products based on the founder's invention. I'll be responsible for ground up design (high level system design, component selection, schematic and PCB, firmware, and where applicable mobile app demos). I'd also be responsible for writing with customers to raise their ideas of things they could do with the core tech.

So, I'm really excited about the work but the title is a bit bland. I'd have some flexibility to set my title, so looking for some ideas. Likely things with "Director" or "VP" won't fly and honestly I'm not necessarily looking at that at this stage. Maybe if I'm still around in a few years and we've built more of a team around me. Instead right now, I'm thinking of something like "Imagineer" except that's a blatant Disney title and I'd like to not be too derivative.

TC to be 175k base, 0.5% equity over 4 years, 11 YOE.

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TOP 12 Comments
  • New
    SrUt12

    New

    SrUt12
    The only appropriate time to give yourself a novel title is when (1) you already have a long resume of leadership titles, or (2) you own your own business and DGAF about how recruiters/companies perceive your title.
    Jan 18 1
    • New
      engineerDa

      New

      engineerDa
      OP
      Seems pointless to wait for a long list of different titles. I have significant years already with a leadership title. More of them won't change that or my experience and that's assuming I'd even work at enough different places to accumulate whatever it takes to have a long list of titles.

      It's not so much that I DGAF about recruiters or companies browsing LinkedIn for titles but rather, I care more about the very small set that would find the novel title interesting versus the ones that would be turned off. So, if this is an even more effective screening tool, I'm even more convinced to go for it.
      Jan 18
  • Head of Engineering / Head of Technology
    Jan 18 0
  • Snap
    tr4xk89

    Go to company page Snap

    tr4xk89
    That’s good equity? What stage?

    Assuming early, I think you can try: founding EE or lead EE or staff EE
    Jan 17 3
  • Microsoft
    πŸ‘¨β€βœˆοΈ Obvious

    Go to company page Microsoft

    πŸ‘¨β€βœˆοΈ Obvious
    Go with CEEO? Chief EE Officer?
    Jan 18 1
    • New
      engineerDa

      New

      engineerDa
      OP
      Ha, points for creativity.
      Jan 18
  • Tesla / Eng
    strctrlPH

    Go to company page Tesla Eng

    strctrlPH
    Principal
    Jan 18 0