Security Engineer | Etsy Global Negotiation Guide

Negotiation DNA: Equity-Heavy + Bonus | Handmade & Vintage Marketplace | $750M Share Buyback (Feb 2026) | 14.2% Float Reduction

Region	Base Salary	Stock (RSU/4yr)	Bonus	Total Comp
Brooklyn	$185K–$232K	$108K–$195K	10–15%	$215K–$295K
San Francisco	$192K–$238K	$108K–$195K	10–15%	$222K–$305K
Remote US	$178K–$222K	$108K–$195K	10–15%	$205K–$285K

Negotiation DNA

Etsy Security Engineers protect a marketplace processing $13B+ in annual transactions — securing buyer payment data, seller financial information, account credentials, and the platform integrity that prevents fraud and counterfeit listings. Your security work protects Etsy's trust-based brand — the fundamental value proposition that buyers are purchasing authentic handmade goods from real artisans. A security breach doesn't just expose data — it destroys the trust that differentiates Etsy from commodity marketplaces. [Source: Etsy Security Comp 2025-2026]

Level Mapping: Etsy Security Eng (E3) = Google L4 Security = Meta Security Eng = Amazon Security Eng II = Shopify Security Eng

$750M Share Buyback — The 14.2% Stock Floor

Etsy announced a $750M share repurchase program in February 2026 — buying back 14.2% of its outstanding float. This is the strongest signal a company can send about stock undervaluation: Etsy is spending three-quarters of a billion dollars to buy its own shares, reducing supply and creating a price floor. "As a Security Engineer, I protect the $13B+ in annual transactions and the marketplace trust that Etsy's brand depends on. I want more RSUs — the $750M buyback reduces float by 14.2%, and my security work directly protects the brand value and transaction integrity that makes the buyback sustainable. I'm asking for an additional $22K-$38K in RSU grants because the buyback amplifies every share, and a major security incident could wipe out the market cap the buyback is designed to support." Push for security-level RSU packages reflecting brand-protection and transaction-security impact.

Global Levers

1. $750M Buyback — Security Protects Market Cap: "Etsy's $750M buyback protects shareholder value — and my security engineering prevents the incidents that could destroy it. The 14.2% float reduction amplifies my RSUs while I protect the trust brand."
2. $13B+ Transaction Security: "I protect $13B+ in annual marketplace transactions — buyer payment data, seller financial information, and the checkout integrity that buyers trust. My work is the insurance on Etsy's revenue."
3. Marketplace Trust & Fraud Prevention: "Etsy's brand depends on trust — buyers believe they're purchasing authentic handmade goods. My security work on fraud detection, counterfeit prevention, and seller verification protects this trust moat."
4. PCI Compliance & Payment Security: "I ensure PCI-DSS compliance and payment security for Etsy's transaction processing. Payment security isn't optional — it's the regulatory and brand foundation of the marketplace."

Negotiate Up Strategy: "I'm targeting $228K base and $192K RSUs over 4 years for this Security Engineer role. Etsy's $750M buyback reduces float by 14.2% — my security engineering protects the $13B+ in transactions and marketplace trust that make the buyback sustainable. A breach could wipe out the market cap. I have competing offers from [Shopify at $298K TC / Pinterest at $292K TC / eBay at $285K TC]. Etsy's buyback-amplified RSUs and my brand-protection impact justify premium security comp." Accept at $212K+ base and $168K+ RSUs.

Evidence & Sources

• [Etsy $750M Share Repurchase — February 2026, 14.2% Float Reduction]
• [Etsy Security Comp — Levels.fyi 2025-2026]
• [Etsy Transaction Security — $13B+ GMS Protection]
• [Etsy Marketplace Trust — Fraud Prevention & Brand Integrity]