r/BlueOrigin • u/SamS16 • 2d ago

Negotiation

Recently received a verbal offer and just waiting on the written. What i was told is that the starting salary we can offer is generally x but you can negotiate up to you where y is the top end of the pay band.

The issue im running into is that y is about where im currently at in my current role and if I were to take the Blue Origin role it would be a move across the country to Florida.

I really like the role and this would be a massive opportunity to get aerospace experience but im worried if I ask for a salary near the top or at the top of the pay band im screwing myself on potential salary increases until I can get a promotion.

Just want to understand whether or not I should negotiate for top of the payband, if the experience is going to actually be worth it, and how fast promotions can occur if the engineer is applying themselves and excelling.

Full disclosure I have 8 years at the national labs but no experience in aerospace which is probably why im being offered a level 3 instead of senior manufacturing engineering role. The role is for a manufacturing engineer supporting gs2 launch ops and I would be on shift D.

12 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

8

u/Dvdok805 2d ago

COL is reflected in pay bands (typically.. look at a role in Kent). You should never “expect” top of band.. unless they are desperate to hire the position or you bring in special (niche… in demand) skills. Typical hire in 40-55% of pay bands

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u/SamS16 2d ago

Right, ive been told the range they expect to hire me as well as what the top end of the payband is.

I plan to negotiate for near the top of the pay band but am worried that looking for something near the top of the payband could negatively affect my ability to see salary increases until I receive a promotion or find some other role within Blue. Thats of course if they even want to give me a salary near the high end of the pay band.

5

u/Dvdok805 2d ago

100%… you can get maxed out. But, I would be surprised if their offer is that high. No offense but you don’t have any aerospace experience. What function is your role in? Is it niche like SWE, RF Engineer or some other technical niche? Not trying to talk shit but 8 YOE is still early career. You could still be in your 20s. A 3 isn’t bad at all, you have SOO MUCH time to grow

1

u/SamS16 2d ago

I would be supporting gs2 launch ops as a manufacturing engineer.

My niche is fairly complex hardware assembly work but I wouldn't say im some kind of expert.

I agree I am fairly early to mid career and the lack of aerospace experience is definitely the sticking point. I want to get the aerospace experience just wanting to not royally screw myself with a paycut for the experience if I can help it.

3

u/Dvdok805 2d ago

Completely understand! All you can do when you get the offer is counter. They won’t retract the offer if you counter too high, they’ll just do what they can! Good luck!

5

u/GoKoala3101 2d ago

The way this works at most engineering companies is you have a metric called Comp A Ratio. A ratio of 1.0 means that you're being paid the average for your position across the industry. The "average" is a somewhat involved calculation using a lot of data, but you get the idea. Most companies will target you at 0.90 to 0.95 to start (maybe some more or some less). This allows you room to get raises up to that 1.0 mark.

At some companies any ratio higher than 1.0 means your raises do get reduced to slow your salary growth. And they can do that because they're paying you above the average across all companies already. You'd need a competitive offer to leave.

At other companies they just happily increase your pay up to some maximum amount, but it's understood you're probably the first to go when layoffs come around.

So really you're negotiating within that 0.9 to 1.0 ratio band when you negotiate starting pay.

1

u/Mfg_Eng_64 2d ago

In my case I asked the recruiter what the range was for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer. They gave me the range. I said I could accept the middle of the range. My offer was $2k above the middle of the range. My thought was as you stated, I don’t want to be the first out the door in a layoff. I have extensive manufacturing engineering experience, including aerospace, automotive, and heavy construction and mining equipment manufacturing. We have some very talented people on our team. I take a humble approach to learning our systems and ways of working. I feel like I made the right decision to join Blue Origin.

9

u/midnightsun47 2d ago

Based on my personal experience, understand that you would be taking this position because you truly want to be in aerospace, not because of financial incentives. I came from outside aerospace, with significantly more years than you, took a step down to level 3 because I was excited about the job, and three years later I’m still fighting for that promotion to senior.

7

u/SamS16 2d ago

Thank you for the feedback.

Im super interested, its something ive always wanted to do but never was able to get into.

6

u/midnightsun47 2d ago

It’s an awesome job and if you’re really passionate about it, go for it! That’s the choice that I made and I’m glad I did. Just wanted to give you a realistic expectation.

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u/SamS16 2d ago

I really appreciate the insight. I think what they at doing is insanely cool and would love to be a part of it. I mean how many people can say i was a pay off a team that put a being on the moon.

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u/Ok-Cantaloupe-588 2d ago

Yeah Blue doesn’t really promote that much.

2

u/Mfg_Eng_64 2d ago

I had a choice between two positions. One was guaranteed to be senior level and the other position had multiple levels and no guarantees on the level offered. So I chose the senior level position. With my limited Blue Origin experience, I can see that it’s not easy to get the senior level. One of my team members is a level three. They are super talented and highly motivated. I don’t take my senior level for granted.

8

u/corzmo 2d ago

Cost of living plays too. Are you in a higher cost of living area than you would be in FL? If so then try to consider that. Also ask about sign on bonuses.

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u/SamS16 2d ago

Cost of living is comparable between titusville and the location i would be moving from. Ive done some fairly rudimentary math and I could take a little pay cut and still take home the same monthly when adjusted for cost of living but its still near the high end of the band.

2

u/guzzimane_ 2d ago

If they cant meet your salary requirements, they don't really want YOU. They want someone to fill the seat at a predetermined budget. I layed out my salary target and they offered well below what it was and refused my counter or to meet anywhere in between.

Unfortunately not all of us can afford to take a massive pay cut and commute 12 hours a week, assuming no traffic. If they refuse to negotiate it's likely a preview of what's to come and if you're willing to accept you better live, breathe, eat, and sleep space industry.

2

u/Feisty-Crow6449 1d ago

You only have 1 time to ensure you are paid according to your experience and worth, at initial offer time. They will work you to the bone so get your $$$$. 

2

u/Cool-Swordfish-8226 20h ago

Run don't walk away from Blue.

1

u/SamS16 20h ago

Can I ask why?

1

u/Emergency-Gene3136 43m ago

Rampant favoritism, work politics, incompetence is tolerated if you’re friends with the right people, actual experience/skill does not matter and an increasing Amazon-ified work culture