The interview process itself was well-structured. However, the lack of transparency around compensation was extremely misleading. During the the initial screen and interview process, compensation discussions referenced a base salary range of approximately $105k–$110k, and I was explicitly asked whether that range aligned with my expectations. Based on those conversations, I proceeded through 5 rounds of interviews. Only at the offer stage was I informed that compensation was heavily adjusted based on geographic location, and that the maximum base salary for my location was $89k which is a significant and material deviation from what had previously been discussed, and below my current compensation. While I understand the use of location-based compensation, the lack of transparency around how significantly it would impact the offer until the final stage was disappointing. This information would have materially impacted my decision to continue in a 5-round interview process. My recommendation to candidates is to clarify how geographic compensation bands are applied as early as possible, as initial compensation conversations may not reflect the actual offer range even at the lowest number.