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Are we talking about founders or FAANG developers? Last I’ve read on HN, most founders are not making “SV salary” because they’re expecting the golden ticket.

Are we talking about founders or FAANG developers? Last I’ve read on HN, most founders are not making “SV salary” because they’re expecting the golden ticket. Here, it appears you get an equivalent salary + job security with a capped upside.

toomuchtodo 6y ago
It's a great deal. It's not meant to replicate a startup equity lottery ticket, it's closer to a financial services bonus or RSUs at Big Tech. ~$300k/year total comp and low risk compared to unicorn equity lottery is a no brainer, although if you can hustle and have the talent, you might do slightly better at FAANG.
thelean12 6y ago
You say "equivalent salary" but compared to what? You mentioned FAANG above so I assume that? Unless you're ignoring total compensation, that's not right. You're going to have a much lower base compensation at CIA labs than FAANG. The $150k extra might only match FAANG, and would probably take years of effort to get it at the CIA. I imagine if you're talented enough to work at CIA labs you could land a much more lucrative and guaranteed FAANG compensation package instead.
- JackFr 6y ago
  I assume they're gonna scoop up all the Palantir guys after the IPO.
  - thelean12 6y ago
    How are they going to get the Palantir people? Doesn't Palantir pay extremely well? I don't think people in this thread understand: The starting salary range for a "Technical Developer" is $60k-$150k according to their website. I imagine it's similar for CIA labs. That won't get any FAANG or Palantir developers out of bed in the morning unless they think being in the CIA super cool or something.
    - waterfowl 6y ago
      Palantir does not pay well, or at least used to not. They had a disclosed relatively low salary cap back in the day. https://www.quora.com/How-does-Palantir-attract-talent-if-it-caps-its-salary-at-127-000 https://www.quora.com/How-does-Palantir-attract-talent-if-it...
      - thelean12 6y ago
        Interesting, sounds like I'm mostly wrong about Palantir vs the CIA, unless the prospects of Palantir IPOing is luring. Regardless, I'm much more familiar with FAANG compensation and my comments are still accurate for those.
xxpor 6y ago
Sorry, I meant compared to being a bog standard IC at FAANG. Not a founder or anything like that.

toomuchtodo 6y ago

It's a great deal. It's not meant to replicate a startup equity lottery ticket, it's closer to a financial services bonus or RSUs at Big Tech. ~$300k/year total comp and low risk compared to unicorn equity lottery is a no brainer, although if you can hustle and have the talent, you might do slightly better at FAANG.

thelean12 6y ago

You say "equivalent salary" but compared to what? You mentioned FAANG above so I assume that? Unless you're ignoring total compensation, that's not right. You're going to have a much lower base compensation at CIA labs than FAANG. The $150k extra might only match FAANG, and would probably take years of effort to get it at the CIA. I imagine if you're talented enough to work at CIA labs you could land a much more lucrative and guaranteed FAANG compensation package instead.

JackFr 6y ago
I assume they're gonna scoop up all the Palantir guys after the IPO.
- thelean12 6y ago
  How are they going to get the Palantir people? Doesn't Palantir pay extremely well? I don't think people in this thread understand: The starting salary range for a "Technical Developer" is $60k-$150k according to their website. I imagine it's similar for CIA labs. That won't get any FAANG or Palantir developers out of bed in the morning unless they think being in the CIA super cool or something.
  - waterfowl 6y ago
    Palantir does not pay well, or at least used to not. They had a disclosed relatively low salary cap back in the day. https://www.quora.com/How-does-Palantir-attract-talent-if-it-caps-its-salary-at-127-000 https://www.quora.com/How-does-Palantir-attract-talent-if-it...
    - thelean12 6y ago
      Interesting, sounds like I'm mostly wrong about Palantir vs the CIA, unless the prospects of Palantir IPOing is luring. Regardless, I'm much more familiar with FAANG compensation and my comments are still accurate for those.

xxpor 6y ago

Sorry, I meant compared to being a bog standard IC at FAANG. Not a founder or anything like that.