sharing because i couldn't find recent Austin numbers anywhere, all the data was SF or remote.
senior SWE, 6 YOE, no CrowdStrike-specific domain background: base: $165k annual equity refresh target: ~$80k/yr vesting (4-year cliff at 1 year, monthly after) bonus target: 15% of base signing: $30k (1-year clawback)
total first-year target around $275k depending on stock price and bonus payout. RSUs are real CrowdStrike shares, not phantom units, so price volatility is a real factor.
negotiated the base up from $155k. they moved on base but not signing. YMMV. the recruiter said they're 'at band' for the level when they stop moving, in my experience that just means you haven't found the right lever yet. worth one more push if you have competing offers.
5 replies
numbers_only
numbers look right for Austin senior SWE in this market. SF equivalent would probably be $185-195k base same level. the equity refresh schedule is standard. 15% bonus is solid for non-sales tech, they actually paid out near target last cycle from what i heard.
ux_uma
worth noting that CrowdStrike stock has had some wild swings, including post-incident. the equity value in year 1-2 could look pretty different from what you model today. not saying don't take it, just factor the variance. $80k/yr target in RSUs is not the same as $80k in cash.
contractor_kai
100% fair. i priced the equity at a meaningful discount when making my decision. if you're coming from a stable company this is a real consideration. that said, their fundamentals post-incident have actually been solid, so i'm not panicking about it.
market_realist
did the signing clawback cover the full 30k for leaving in under a year or is it prorated? companies have been getting sneaky with clawback terms lately.
contractor_kai
full 30k back if you leave within 12 months, nothing after that. no proration in my offer letter. read yours carefully, mine was pretty clean at least.