It’s been tough. After six years at Lockheed, I took a year off—and now coming back has been harder than I expected. I’ve submitted over 100 applications, landed only two interviews, and didn’t make it through either. Feeling disappointed, but still trying to push forward.
How does the salary of an Sr or Staff engineer (5-10 years experience) in the Bay Area (space) compare to other tech companies in the area? I’ve noticed that new graduates can earn $200k in FANG companies or other tech firms, which is equivalent to the salary of an L5-L6 engineer (10-20 years of experience at a LM). Can you transfer your skills from a LM to work for other tech companies (non-software engineering roles)?
I’ve noticed that many undergraduates in my area receive offers ranging from $150k to $200k. In contrast, I, as a senior project engineer with eight years of experience and a master’s degree from one of the largest defense contractors, barely make $100k. Is the high income at FANG companies exclusive to software engineers, while other positions offer same salaries compared to other companies in the same region? However, my current job has a low chance of layoffs unless I make a serious mistake or cheat on time.
The salary and stock options are incredibly attractive to me, and I’m contemplating whether I should return to school to pursue a career in a field where FANG companies offer high salaries. I understand that the grass is often greener on the other side, but I’m not sure what I don’t know about tech companies. It seems that new graduates are offered salaries comparable to those of my senior manager, despite having only 15-20 years of experience.