How FAANG Engineers Decide Between a Startup and Big Tech

Episode 46 of The Tech Career Podcast tackles one of the toughest choices engineers face: stay at a FAANG company or jump to a startup. Lucas and Luna break down the real trade-offs beyond equity math — using the specific example of an L5 engineer at Amazon who joined an early-stage startup as employee number 15. They discuss how to evaluate startup equity versus FAANG RSUs, the compensation cliff at big companies, the 4x dilution problem, and why the decision often depends on risk tolerance and career stage. The hosts also share a framework for thinking about joining a startup that's not just about the lottery-ticket exit. By the end, listeners will have a clear set of questions to ask before making the leap, including how to assess a startup's runway, market, and founders. Plus: the hosts talk about how listeners can keep the show ad-free. #FAANG #Startup #EngineeringCareer #TechJobs #Equity #Compensation #L5Engineer #Amazon #StockOptions #RSU #Dilution #RiskTolerance #CareerStrategy #InterviewPrep #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TechCareer Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo