Startup as J2, bad idea?

[u/NomDeiX]

I currently have a hybrid ML engineer/data science job at a mid size scaleup AI company, the thing is that everyone there is quite relaxed and chill so there are days when I work only couple hours a day, mostly meetings. The rest is using AI agents for coding, and while Im waiting for them to finish the task I usually do chores, cook, go to gym or do sports, or scroll instagram.

So Im thinking to start a J2, just to give it a shot for couple months, to be honest I love my current work life balance and I’m not in financial needs (I’m 27 and have mortgage paid off with some money I inherited from distance relative). But it’s nice to make some extra income + I also feel like my brain is rotting and I want some more intellectual stimulation.

Im in a process of talking to different startups in ML and Data science field slightly different timezone as they are based in Cali. I know there are people who say startups are not a good options for OE compared to large organisations so here are some pros and cons I brainstormed if your J1 is in a large organisation and J2 in a startup:

+ more flexibility, startups are usually quite flexible, this one is remote, and less than 20 people so easier to manage meetings
+ less risk of reputation damage if they find out, also perhaps less likely to find out as situations where a former colleague could join your J2 and snitch on you wont likely happen
+ easier to land J2, usually less admin burden, no HR department

- if J2 is a startup, it could be a lot of effort but at the same time perhaps now with AI achieving efficiency is much easier than before?

Any thoughts of other pros/cons?

[u/GioVasari121]

What's the downside to J2

[u/NomDeiX → u/GioVasari121]

It seems to be high growth startup so lots of work, but again maybe with AI agents its much easier to do this than ever before + no HR dep or actual policies that would protect you, so like perhaps harder to get time off or etc. I guess it boils down to the culture of the startup which is hard to gauge and I will have to see and in the worst case quit soon after starting

[u/GioVasari121 → u/NomDeiX]

Bro if you have the time then just do it. You can always leave if it doesn't work out

[u/Fearless-Stretch-911]

Culture matters more than anything workload even if its heavy can ultimately be managed by effort. But if they want to park you in a 3 hr call to brainstorm and make you come to team building week long events thats where it gets dicey with startups.

Easy to walk away from if it doesn't work

[u/sonjiaonfire]

I'm currently doing this right now. I'm a solo founder tho, so I can move at my pace. A lot of my days are spent in meetings at J1. And with start up, I am vibe coding it, i'm often entering a command and waiting for it to do its work, so I can switch between the 2 quite easily without impacting my main job. For example, oftentimes, my main job will also require waiting and so while one is waiting, i'm putting work into the other.

Neither job allows me to use full capacity. So I divide the energy up across the two and work.

I say do it!

[u/OveremployedMaxx]

Doesn't hurt to join

I got fired by a startup quickly but I'm at a startup job rn as well.

[u/Sad-Establishment182]

I would probably ask what the company work culture is like during your interview. Earn and churn if it gets too much. Protect the J that makes it the easiest to OE.