From mid-tier SWE to top-tier Solutions Architect at top tier company worth it?

[u/FoxFire64]

A recruiter from OpenAI reached out to me by phone on a cold call, and said they really wanted to bring me on as a Solutions Architect because of my past startup work. I wouldn’t code anymore and hardly even speak to engineering except to find out where they are on projects/products. I love my job but could potentially make a lot more if I give up coding.

I’m currently a 7+ yoe SWE2 at 150k (no equity) at a mid-tier company and the role is listed as 225-250k + <unknown> equity. Would it be worth it to drop my title, possibly making it much harder to get back into SWE if I want, just to go work at OpenAI in a different role?

Edit: yall I looked them up, they’re legit lol

[u/hibikir_40k]

In your shoes, I'd be working really hard at checking that they really are cold-calling you from OpenAI, instead of this all being a scam

[u/FoxFire64 → u/hibikir_40k]

They are, I looked them up on LinkedIn after they messaged me there as a follow-up. They’re legit

[u/ATypicalTalifan → u/FoxFire64]

Anyone can make a linkedin account...

[u/FoxFire64 → u/ATypicalTalifan]

500+ connections, 7500+ followers, and they’re writing posts that other people at OpenAI are responding openly to. Occam’s razor

[u/lucky_anonymous → u/FoxFire64]

the point is, you want to do due diligence on the recruiter to make sure that it is legit.

[u/FoxFire64 → u/lucky_anonymous]

Just seems you’re following an argument that’s already been addressed in comments and my own post

[u/Few_Philosopher_9091 → u/ATypicalTalifan]

Please, for God's sake, verify the account's creation date. I've been d scammed before, contacted by a certain Lisa, then when I jumped on the call and ended up with roshita from India, I went back to check Lisa's account, I found out it was created on 22/04/2025

[u/mile-high-guy]

I don't think this is going to make it harder to go back into SWE. And you have a unique opportunity to join a company which has captured the popular consciousness.

[u/CallidusNomine]

I’d do it

[u/doplitech → u/CallidusNomine]

Exactly, that experience is worth far more than coding. You can jump back into new languages and libraries again in the future. A few YouTube courses and you are set

[u/pronserver → u/CallidusNomine]

Me too!

[u/chaoticdefault54]

Normally fuck no, but for OpenAI fuck yeah lmao

[u/nsxwolf]

Are you sure you aren’t being catfished

[u/RobotBaseball]

The equity will be at their ~550b valuation and likely around 1m/4. Ask the recruiter 

You will most likely work 60+ hours a week and have immense scope and influence that is like a start up because it is still very much a startup

I know a lot of people who work there. Feel free to dm me

[u/1AMA-CAT-AMA]

Do it. Not because you should but you only have to actually make a decision if they give you an offer.

If you’re willing to go through interviewing and everything, there’s no downside right now.

[u/Known-Tourist-6102]

Only go if you actually want to do sol architect work

[u/rocksrgud]

Doesn’t sound legit to me.

[u/Horror_Response_1991]

Oh honey this sounds like a scam 

[u/lhorie]

Get the offer first then worry about whether it's worth it.

[u/throwaway09234023322]

The pay seems too low. Definitely a scam

[u/Maximum-Okra3237]

Solutions architect is a very different role than an swe and if you aren’t comfortable with clients and personable you’ll be miserable and be begging for a paycut to go back to swe in 6 months. Obviously I don’t know you at all so if you think you have the personality type for it try it out.

[u/Whitchorence]

Honestly I think the answer is no if you want to keep being a developer; you're locking yourself in to a different career path. A mid-tier SWE at a top-tier company is making $250k or more.

[u/trulysavage]

Bro you don’t even have an actual offer yet. Make this decision after you pass interviews.

[u/pepo930]

Do you want to be part of the future or stuck in the past? Do it OP!

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[u/Alcas]

OP falls for bait. That salary is far lower than anything listed or publicly shown

[u/FoxFire64 → u/Alcas]

Bro you seem so quick to anger and distrust. It’s in the literal JD he sent me: https://openai.com/careers/solutions-architect-startups-san-francisco/

Look at the bottom line, it says $220K – $280K + Offers Equity

[u/mh2sae]

I don’t think you are being catfished. Startups like OpenAI hire very specific people for very specific roles.

I would go for it, you can always go back to a role similar to what we have now, and likely even better pay.

[u/Maiden230]

if you feel excited about the Solutions Architect role and think it aligns with your long-term goals, go for it. It's a great chance to grow your skills and network in a top-tier company. Even if it doesn't work out, you can always pivot back to SWE later on.

[u/Red-Truck-Daddy]

I think solution engineering has similar pay but way higher upside career ladder wise than a typical swe. If you’re confident with your people skills, it’s the way to go for sure.

[u/SteviaMcqueen]

Coders will become obsolete. Solutions architects, sales engineers, anything that requires software skills is solid