The interview process took about a month. It started with a recruiter screening to discuss my background and skills, followed by a technical interview (live coding + technical questions related to my expertise). Next was a system design interview, and the final round was supposed to be a behavioral interview, but it turned out to be mostly technical as well.
I clearly communicated my salary expectations in the first interview, and the recruiter indicated they were acceptable if I performed well in the interviews. After successfully completing all rounds, receiving positive feedback, and hearing that they liked my profile, I was surprised when they later claimed that my salary expectations were beyond their budget. Instead of a competitive offer, they proposed a B2B contract with a base salary, without shares, bonuses, health insurance, or any other benefits. They then invited me to a call to persuade me to accept this offer, showing zero flexibility from their side.
Final Thoughts: The project itself is interesting, and the team appears to be talented and skilled. However, I would advise future candidates to clarify compensation details upfront to avoid potential time waste.