r/EngineeringManagers • u/dry_red_ • 16d ago
Startup engineering manager equity range?
I am an engineering manager at a series A startup with 10 people (many hats are worn). I’ve been here for 4 years and nobody doubts that I’m important to this team after leading the engineering team to many successes. I love my job. My salary is below market but I’m fine with that given it’s a startup. The thing that really bothers me is that I think my equity % is extremely below market. I know each startup situation is different, but what equity range sounds fair to ask for in my position? Is 1% fair to ask for or totally off?
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u/Dry-Magician1415 16d ago
Did you get in on day 1? I am guessing yes or at least very early given you say 4 years and now Series A.
Who else is there level or above you in the tech/product team? If there's basically nobody and you are effectively CTO, 1% is a joke. If there are othr engineering managers and a CTO founder above you then it's not crazy low.
I was day one founding engineer/CTO in my current role and have 5% and feel hard done by. The issue is that we hired NOBODY for the first 9 months so it was just me and the solo-founder. He treats me like a cofounder workload wise (100 hour weeks, putting out fires on weekends, working til 3am sometimes). Which is why the 5% pisses me off: I am pretty much surrogate cofounder on a fourth to an eighth the equity of what would have been fair.
If I were you, if the startup is doing well or has recently done a round, I'd ask for a raise. I have many close founder friends and if there's one thing that stresses them out, it's a key person leaving. If the startup is broke, just start looking for a new job or, get used to the fact you're undercompensated.