What It's Like to Be a Software Engineer at HashiCorp
As a software engineer at HashiCorp, you'll be building the tools that are used by millions of developers and organizations around the world to provision, secure, connect, and run their infrastructure. You'll be working on one of HashiCorp's core open-source products, such as Terraform, Vault, Consul, or Nomad. The engineering culture at HashiCorp is deeply rooted in open source, and you'll be expected to be an active participant in the community. The tech stack is primarily Go, with some teams using other languages like Ruby and Ember.js for the web UI. They are also heavy users of their own products, so you'll get to experience the full HashiStack firsthand.
Day-to-day, you can expect to work in a remote-first, asynchronous environment. You'll be working with a distributed team of engineers from around the world, and you'll be expected to be a strong written communicator. HashiCorp has a strong set of engineering principles that guide their work, and they are committed to building high-quality, reliable software.
Salary & Compensation
HashiCorp offers competitive salaries and benefits, with a focus on creating a great work-life balance. Here's a general breakdown of what you can expect for a software engineering role in San Francisco:
| Level | Base Salary | Total Comp (incl. equity) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (L1-L2) | $120K–$160K | $150K–$220K |
| Mid (L3-L4) | $160K–$220K | $220K–$320K |
| Senior (L5+) | $220K–$280K | $320K–$400K+ |
Interview Process
The interview process at HashiCorp is designed to be a two-way street, giving you a chance to get to know the team and the company. It typically consists of 4-5 rounds:
- Recruiter Screen — A 30-minute call with a recruiter to discuss your background and interest in the role.
- Technical Phone Screen — A 60-minute coding interview with a software engineer. You can expect a practical coding exercise that is relevant to the work you'd be doing at HashiCorp.
- Onsite/Virtual Loop — A series of 4-5 interviews with engineers and managers. This will include a mix of coding, system design, and behavioral questions.
- Values Interview — A dedicated interview to assess your alignment with HashiCorp's values.
How to Stand Out
- Show your passion for open source. HashiCorp is an open-source company, and they want to see that you're excited about their mission.
- Demonstrate your expertise in one of HashiCorp's core products. Whether it's Terraform, Vault, Consul, or Nomad, show that you have a deep understanding of one of their products.
- Be a great written communicator. HashiCorp is a remote-first company, so they're looking for people who can communicate effectively in writing.
- Show that you're a lifelong learner. HashiCorp is a company that is constantly learning and growing, and they want to see that you are too.