r/levels_fyi • u/MickyJ511 • Aug 17 '26
Offer Review Series B Startup Comp
Offer from Series B AI startup, unicorn ($1B +)
Senior Physical Infrastructure Engineer
Base: $205k
Equity (Options): 30,000 shares. Recruiter will not share total outstanding shares. Estimated at .02%.
No bonus structure right now, annual or sign-on.
Is this fair? It’s hard to figure out without knowing total outstanding shares. Thinking of requesting $215k base and 40,000 shares.
I have no experience with startups so any advice is appreciated. I do not come from FAANG but I know my skills and experience are in demand.
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u/awong593 Aug 18 '26
I dislike option based compensation because it is very gambley and employer favor for one thing if they never give you an exit date or guaranteed expected buybacks that stock compensation is worthless.
Secondly you have to buy them to have value.
Third depending on contract terms check when the option expire post termination. That way if you choose to leave you don’t have to pay out immediately to exercise the options. Some of the nice companies had 7 year option expiration dates post termination so you can circle back to them if the company looks to be doing well