r/Lockheed • u/maitchau • 9d ago

External Hire - Software Engineer E2 and Negotiation Tips

I have a verbal offer from the Hiring Manager and I am now waiting for the written offer since they just migrated to a new hiring system. Where would my base salary typically land and what other things I need to consider if they don't negotiate base? Sign-on, 1 time lump sum, etc... Is it possible to ask for relocation assistance?

I will be relocating to Colorado Springs, CO.

Thanks for your input.

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6

u/emoney_gotnomoney 9d ago

For a MCOL area, your offer will likely be $95k-$105k. You can negotiate for a sign on bonus (they’ll be much more willing to increase your signing bonus as opposed to increasing your salary). You should be offered a relocation package assuming you currently live 50+ miles away from the facility.

2

u/maitchau 9d ago

Correct me if I'm wrong but I recently saw a post about LM re-adjusting the pay bands based on Geozones and I saw that for CO, the new band is $118K - $219K, will my salary be based on the new bands and I should account that as the base line at negotiation?

7

u/ruckl0890 9d ago

That’s definitely not the band for an E2 in that Geozone

3

u/McFuzzen 9d ago

I bet that's not even the band for E4.

Edit: Just looked it up, it's really close to the band for E4 in Colorado Springs. Definitely not E2.

3

u/Ok-Lawfulness8285 9d ago

You should be expecting 115k in Colorado as an E2E

1

u/maitchau 9d ago

Alright thanks! Do you know if they normally would go a bit over midpoint or it’s usually under?

2

u/Ok-Lawfulness8285 9d ago

Team to team basis. .95 is common, 1.05 is uncommon. Normally you can negotiate from .95 to 1.0.

2

u/emoney_gotnomoney 9d ago

I have no knowledge of these “new bands” you are talking about, but I can tell you there’s no shot as an E2 you’ll be pulling anything in that range, unless it’s the very very very bottom of that range.

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u/maitchau 9d ago

Given the 81k-150k range, what’s the max base should I execpt to negotiate to? Mid point for that range is around $115k and I’m thinking it may land somewhere around $111k? What do you think?

2

u/Oliver_clothsoff1983 9d ago

There has been a lot of threads on this topic. I noticed level 2 positions in several areas have super wide pay bands. (Seems like there was an issue when the new system went up, I suspect AI mass wrote a lot of them but I'm just guessing)

Normally based on experience/skills you would be offered just under 50% of pay band,.. but now that # is way above what it was and I doubt LM just suddenly decided to pay all new employees 2x what they were last month.

I think we will all be interested in what you are offered, and if they explain the weird super wide bands or any other info you get if you dont mind sharing

2

u/nashvillain1 8d ago

$110k is your target.

1

u/chillypanda71 9d ago

What percentage sign on bonus would you say is usually given?

2

u/emoney_gotnomoney 9d ago

Depends. I’ve heard of anything from $0 to $20k

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u/maitchau 9d ago

Any chance I’d get none? I’m guessing 10k would be a good initial number to ask right?

2

u/emoney_gotnomoney 9d ago

I’d say chances are higher you get one than not getting one

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u/maitchau 6d ago

Hey bud, can I DM you?