How the work differs across examples
The Austin results include Kong’s staff FDE role, listed at $192,010–$274,300 and remote while hiring in Texas. The work includes API and AI gateway migrations, automation frameworks, integrations, plugins, CI/CD, Kubernetes, and production infrastructure for external customers. SecurityScorecard’s senior FDE role lists $200,000–$260,000 in base salary plus bonus, includes Austin and New York among its locations, and describes customer deployments, AI-native security solutions, integrations, and up to 40% travel. Its posting states that employees within 75 miles of downtown Austin or Midtown New York work on-site one or two days each week.
The New York metro list includes OpenAI’s financial-services FDE role, listed at $185,000–$300,000. It combines discovery, scoping, production AI delivery, launch controls, evaluation, and post-production adoption for regulated institutions. The posting describes a hybrid schedule with three office days each week and up to 50% travel.
A practical comparison checklist
For each posting, record the exact eligible location, office schedule, travel requirement, customer or internal audience, production ownership, required experience, and salary range. Compare bonus, equity, benefits, and vesting separately. If the employer does not state sponsorship, travel, or an office rule, leave that point open and ask.
Review the Austin jobs, New York metro jobs, and FDE salary table. Use the salary table as a starting point, then inspect each employer posting.