Aurora vs NYC Series A Startup Internship

Question

I am very lucky to get a software engineering Internship offer ($52/hr + relocation to Mountain View) from Aurora Innovation, and an offer (w/ almost equal pay) from a series A startup in NYC. Both companies are in the robotics field with very talented teams. I very, very, very much enjoy the interview process with the startup, and it seems to have a very supportive community. This will be my final internship, and I wonder which experience will be better for career advancement.

7c8CMicA · Accepted Answer

Some things I'd consider:

- is there product market fit at the startup? Regardless of what others say, I am of the belief that brand names carry weight and being affiliated with them in some way will create opportunities in your career in ways you just can't anticipate. That said, Aurora is the safer bet and in an industry thats prime for a resurgence in the next decade.

- on the flip side, Aurora hasn't been performing well, as the auto industry has been impacted by global market forces. The next year or two will be challenging and anything could happen. We saw Argo fold this year which was very unexpected. Startups are in prime position to take advantage of the influx of talent and bringing the expertise from big tech to the startup world may be the injection of momentum that gets investors excited.

TLDR: I'd go with Aurora as the safest bet but if you want a wild ride and the chance to dabble in lots of things, the startup would be a solid choice.

hookc1c1 · Answer

Congrats! Where are you based now? I think relocation for a role is one of the best experiences you can have as a young professional. The personal growth can change your world view in ways no job could. New sights, sounds, people... it's why I encourage students to study abroad and to travel as much as they can during their time in school. Once life takes over, it's very hard to move around and experience things.

prakashOm · Answer

I would go with the startup. You have way more opportunities to try things and it's easier to get your ideas off the ground if you have all your ducks in a row. When I got my second job out of school, it was at a startup and I worked there for three years. I was a junior dev and in my second year, I got an intern who was then hired on full time my last year there. No way I'd have that experience at a bigger company imo. Gave me a ton of confidence

soulhoff · Answer

How many people work at the startup? I would be wary of pre-seed and seed stage companies so you've dodged that bullet.

qwertyCoder · Answer

You're already doing the right thing by trying to optimize for growth. The only question really is which place will you grow faster? Here's how I'd evaluate it:

1. Which company is growing the fastest in terms of headcount / revenue?
2. Which team within the company will you be on? Is that growing at a similar rate with the company?
3. Is the manager supportive of you?

When the tide comes, even the dead wood rises. Join a fast growing environment and you'll grow as well.

Aurora vs NYC Series A Startup Internship

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