Recently got offered an ML research position at Astrazeneca after a really long and hard job search. The position is in Gaithersburg MD. I'm currently in SF, Bay area. TC is 380k with current stock price at Astrazeneca. My Salesforce TC is around 470k and will be 290k in 2021 if I don't get stock refreshers. Work wise, what I'm doing at Salesforce isn't challenging and feels dead end - my team has been focusing more on data infra and I've been there only ML person on the team making it impossible to do anything ambitious. At astrazeneca, it's a director level role leading efforts on ML research for drug discovery etc. Thoughts from blind community? Take the offer or not? It's a TC cut and they expect me to in MD after covid.. I've a NFLX ML research engineer on-site in two weeks but I don't know how that will go. If someone can offer pointers on how to prepare for this it will be nice.#offer #tech
Maryland? Geez... I wouldn’t take it. Use your free time/WLB at Salesforce to prepare and do more interviews. Don’t settle for the first offer you get. Keep applying and get an offer from a company you WANT.
I don't really have wlb at Salesforce :(
My bad, I just assumed so because you mentioned the dead end work. Hmm. Maybe take some PTO to study, and just do a few (3-5) Leetcode problems a night and whatever other studying you need to. I think you can land an offer that’s not in Maryland.
Hey man, I would take the AZ offer. Seems more challenging, and Gaithersburg isn’t half bad. It’s a suburb of D.C. but you’d still be very well off with that type of pay. Personally I like the northern VA area and D.C. since I have had fond memories there. Seriously, DC hits diff, but you should also consider if you’ll have the means to return to the bay if it all went to shit at AZ.
I won't be moving out unless covid is over and I need to be in office.
i presume you are expecting to eventually have to be in the office, hence my comment. as it stands now, if location isn't the issue, it boils down to what do you want to do with your career, stay at SF or take the risk into AZ.
Cost of living in Gaithersburg MD is way lower than SF. Montgomery county,MD has a significant biotech presence. About 30 min from DC/VA. Quality of life and schools are great
TC looks good for MD, though it seems like you'll be working in management here as opposed to IC as a director. Is that the path you want to take? Also, how many reports and YOE?
It's a hands on role with 2-3 direct reports. 6 yoe after PhD, 2 yoe after Masters. "Director" is more like the level, I think. Principal/ architect level at most companies.
OP, What did you end up doing ?
Did you end up accepting?
Where dis you go?
Do the other team members have PhDs? If not, it's not a research position. The titles "research" and "scientist" have been massively diluted.
Yes they do.