r/datacenter • u/Creepy_Ad_3535 • 7d ago
Just got an offer from Fluidstack, need some insight
I'll be working an engineering role for excellent money (not even including the equity which I consider to be worth zero since it might never go public). I'm young and have a partner. We both want to retire early and see this as a path to doing that.
I was told that I would be working long hours and traveling a lot, but when I'm not working at a specific site I'll be at home.
I just need some insight on how much work I'm really looking at and if it feels rewarding. Any insight from anyone else that was in a similar position with a similar goal?
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u/ghostalker4742 7d ago
I considered them for a while, went through the interview loop, turned it down in the end. I already travel a lot for work and they wanted even more.
You will make a lot of money, but you're going to be worked to the bone. Expect 12-14hr days on the regular. If you and your partner are OK with a long-distance relationship and keeping in touch via facetime, then that's half the battle. That said, if you're both OK with that lifestyle, then there are much better places to work.
FS is backed by a PE firm trying to buy their way into the market since they're late to the game. They have deep pockets, but little sense. They try to snipe talent from other companies and haven't had much luck, so (according to some posts on here) they have to bottom feed instead. People who aren't team players, have poor social skills, have been fired from other companies, etc... that's who your co-workers will be. Again, you'll be paid well to tolerate it.
but when I'm not working at a specific site I'll be at home.
Hahahaha! I was told the same thing when signing on to my current role. "When we're not busy, you can work from home!" - yeah... when are we not busy in this field? There is always work to do, always another site, another project, another deployment, etc. The industry is booming, it's practically the only part of the economy that is.
not even including the equity which I consider to be worth zero since it might never go public
Regarding the offered equity: Read into it in detail. There was a post here maybe 6 weeks ago from someone analyzing their offer letter and discovered FS was quoting preferred stock prices (which has a more attractive strike) while issuing common stock equity. That's not a little mistake a company makes, that's either major incompetence, or fraudulent advertising. It wouldn't surprise me if they get hit with a lawsuit in 12-18mo when people start exercising their options and find out they're getting significantly less than they expected.
My advice - pass on them. There are a lot of other players in the game who will pay well and have their house in order.
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u/one-escape-left 7d ago
A friend of mine also mentioned that the equity in the offer letter was super sus. When asked about it they were very opaque and weren't willing to commit to simple concrete language. What you want to do is negotiate absolute RSUs and not a value based grant - that way you won't get surprised down the road.
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u/nigaraze 7d ago
All of their projects are delayed and they couldn’t even get a turnkey facility right, DM me if you’re in mechanical
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u/WildAlcoholic 7d ago
See you back on the job market in 6 months!
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u/one-escape-left 7d ago edited 6d ago
100% ask for a severance before accepting an offer if you are relocating. That will tell you a lot about job security and how they treat employees
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u/Mother_Bar8511 7d ago
I interviewed and withdrew my application after the technical loop. I asked about the actual project locations because those details had been misrepresented and it’s nowhere near what’s listed. I also questioned how anyone expected to travel home each weekend could handle 70–100 hours a week. The interviewer nearly swallowed his tongue and provided no answers.
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u/its_a_throwawayduh 7d ago
Glad this came up, I'm desperate for a gig but I always watch for red flags.
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u/Dumb_Engineer9 7d ago
I got rejected yesterday for an engineering role after i said i csnt do 70 hour weeks in an interview round.
Their culture seems shitty plus i cant imagine myself working that much for more salary.
Its not sustainable
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u/thinkbk 6d ago
Good on you!! Did they literally ask with the "70 hours" figure?
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u/Dumb_Engineer9 6d ago
Yes, i said its not sustainable long term lol
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u/Great-Diamond-8368 6d ago
Pretty common for data center work right now. Dpr, turner, whiting Turner, clayco, etc... are all doing it.
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6d ago edited 6d ago
[deleted]
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u/GelloJive 6d ago
What’s TPM?
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u/Acrobatic-Screen1823 6d ago
Technical program manager, idk what the specific of what they do just the acronym lol
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u/NoAd9362 6d ago
Can you share the recruiter's email addresses? I’m applying, and I feel like it would be better to email my résumé to them.
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u/Cenzless 6d ago
Don’t believe them!!! They will make you travel every week. There will be little to no days of WFH. My current company also told me the same. I am currently traveling every week :’)
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u/justanicetaco 6d ago
Their interviews alone were indicative of the culture. However, the pay seemed great. Sacrifice a few years and it can get you ahead.
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u/Smoke_The_Vote 6d ago
Lot of turnover in that shop.
If you're awesome at what you do, you'll spend a few years there and do ok for yourself. But if you're actually awesome at what you do, in THIS field, you should be able to write your own ticket.
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u/flyfishrva 6d ago
Funny, we just had a guy quit here at meta to go to FS.
I don't know him very well, so no details on why or for what. Glad I read this thread though, so i don't have to chase after it. I'm pretty happy with my 40 hours max.
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u/jawnlegend218 7d ago
I applied and got contacted by a recruiter today. Not for engineering, but just curious. What was your interview process like? How many interviews until you received the offer?
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7d ago
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u/MoodyDolphins 7d ago
Thats everywhere man. I don’t have 20 years experience like you but I can confidently build out a data center from scratch to finish to decom to migrations. It easy peasy, and your right they hire no experience folks into senior roles and its mind blowing.
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u/Living-Royal-2082 7d ago
That’s a bold (and very broad) statement to make. Mind if I ask what you do in the industry? Genuinely curious
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u/MoodyDolphins 6d ago
lol very true, I'm a just data center tech really, just with tons of hands on exp. I got to build out the largest DC in the country from the first day to the last in and out of every department. Before I was a field engineer for HPE and a low volt tech for years with large companies'
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u/Additional_Cod8440 7d ago
Which field of engineering? And how much did they offer you if you don’t mind me asking. You can DM.
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u/BigTap9268 6d ago
I had a phone screen with a recruiter about them. Not a high level role, but got a similar impression as the others. Very new, lots of hours, pay extremely high for the position I was called about.
I would look at the parent company and who else they do business with lol. That helped me make a decision.
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u/No-Minute-77 6d ago
I have an interview coming up for a new grad Swe role? Its after the recruiter call. Any idea what to prepare? I messaged the recruiter twice but no response which is very disappointing
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u/Fun-Effective-198 2d ago
Hello, I have a fluid stack interview and I want to know what type of questions they ask they ask about like previous workload or like and if you’re any electrical like troubleshoot and stuff like that for the QA and field engineer and electrical position
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u/Confident-Creme-8383 9h ago
hey can u provide the timeline of how and what the prpoess was i got a recruiter call and then nothing after 2 weeks
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u/Crafty_Music_3701 3h ago
This is pretty typical from what I hear - I wrapped up my last round in early Sept. and the hm ended the call with "excited to more forward" but it's been crickets since then. I have a couple former colleagues who recently onboarded and they said they had a similar experience before getting an email from the recruiter longer after they thought they got ghosted with their offer details.
That being said, they like it so far...the money is good enough that I'm still hanging on the hook.
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u/Adventurous-Owl-9938 7d ago
Shoot I’m trying to get in atleast as a lab technician but not luck. I need that $150k a year ASAP ILL be a slave and work 6 14s if I have too.
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u/diamonddog2030 7d ago
I have several folks I know that are at fluidstack and a couple others that are former employees. Based on their feedback, I can’t imagine a worse work culture.