Mid-career researcher wanting to move to Internet scale company

Question

I'm a mid career research scientist (15 years post-PhD) with expertise in cloud computing and AI (mostly vision). I currently work at an industry research lab (almost a decade at my current employer) The work I have done has resulted in papers at top IEEE and ACM conferences, and I am in a quasi management position at my current employer (lead a team of 6; mix of scientists and engineers).While being a success in an industry lab setting, I am interested in moving to an Internet scale company. I have a very hard time selling myself. The work I have done has not made it into products .. just papers and patents. I could probably move to a professor job as I have reputation in my subfield with a strong publication record, on the program committees of key conferences, etc.I am extremely passionate about technology. I am also pretty decent as a manager (be it as a coach or where I am representing my part of the lab to other parts of the business). I also feel a bit of faker syndrome. I have a high salary (350K USD), which is problematic .. it makes going to small companies hard to stomach (I see engineering managers get paid 150K in some small companies) and the larger companies (FANG-Amazon) pay a lot more but seem impossible for me to get into. I did try getting into such companies when I was fresh out of school but flunked the interviews.One other issue .. I feel at home coding but my currently role leave me nearly no time to code. I do management stuff and lead research projects.Any advice would be most appreciated.

eatonphil · Accepted Answer

Have you considered starting a company? It's a bad financial choice in the short-term but it gives you significant flexibility and potential to get to a high salary within a few years whether you succeed or not (since you'll then have industry experience you can pivot from into big tech). Your background would be an easy fit for getting funding IMO.Happy to talk more about it if you're interested and introduce you to some circles that might help, phil@multiprocess.io.

otras · Answer

> I did try getting into such companies when I was fresh out of school but flunked the interviews.
Have you tried preparing and interviewing since? The process is less opaque these days, though the algorithm interview game is still prevalent.
I’m only a mid-level engineer at one of the large companies, but it sounds like you would be a very strong candidate for senior+ roles with your background and experience.

sjg007 · Answer

You have a previous comment on another post about roles above $250k being about politics; I am not sure a FAANG would solve that problem for you.
I wouldn't worry about products per se. I've found that the way to get things done at that level is basically through EQ and influencing people. You have to sell your idea as if it was there idea. You want them to take ownership of it. The way you do that is help other people solve their problems.
In terms of work, you may be more effective hiring more people to work for you and reduce the extra workload that way. Also if you can say no or push back asking for prioritization.
Also you are not who you were 15 years ago and presumably the job you want has different interview criteria. Since you have papers in IEE and ACM conferences etc.. I think one option is to reach out to LeCun, Hassabis, or Hinton directly. Maybe start with a collaboration. You are at another level but don't expect the front door through recruiters or a job posting to be the best path in.

thisarticle · Answer

> I have a high salary (350K USD), which is problematic .. it makes going to small companies hard to stomach (I see engineering managers get paid 150K in some small companies) and the larger companies (FANG-Amazon) pay a lot more but seem impossible for me to get into.My condolences. Ooof.

trifit · Answer

What makes you not content at your current role? The grass is always greener on the other side, till it isn&rsquo;t.

faangiq · Answer

Should be no problem to get a job at FAANG but you may have to check your ego and come in at a level that doesn&rsquo;t match your expectations.

Mid-career researcher wanting to move to Internet scale company

> I have a high salary (350K USD), which is problematic .. it makes going to small companies hard to stomach (I see engineering managers get paid 150K in some small companies) and the larger companies (FANG-Amazon) pay a lot more but seem impossible for me to get into.
My condolences. Ooof.

What makes you not content at your current role? The grass is always greener on the other side, till it isn’t.

Should be no problem to get a job at FAANG but you may have to check your ego and come in at a level that doesn’t match your expectations.