Honestly I have given up trying to “keep” engineers because it’s a losing battle. It’s impossible to compete with big tech. From the offers I’ve seen, if FAANG/Big Tech really wants one of your team members, they will get them and there is nothing you can do.

My employees stay because they want to. They enjoy the work, domain, colleagues. The salary is competitive and fair. They can thrive in this environment.

But I am under no illusions about creating some special environment that can prevent them from getting poached. You can throw cash, stocks, options all you want but if Big Tech wants them, they will outbid you.

Just assume that at any moment they can and will get poached and ensure that the business can continue if people leave. Keep the stack simple, stick to standards, minimize NIH etc.