I recently got laid off from my role in robotics software after about six years of experience, primarily focusing on manipulation and autonomous mobile robots. A few weeks ago, I interviewed for a Senior-level position at a robotics company, which had a stated salary band of $140,000 to $170,000. I received positive feedback from all my interviews, but when the offer came in, it was disappointing. They offered me a base salary of $135,000, which is below the stated band. The reasoning was that I lack direct experience in their specific sub-domain, so they want to bring me in at a level below Senior, with a vague promise of a review for promotion after 4-6 months. This offer is actually lower than what I was making previously, and it feels like a lowball considering my colleagues are getting better offers elsewhere. I have significant transferable skills, particularly in real-time robotics and motion planning, so I believe I deserve a salary closer to the entry level of the Senior band. Currently, I don’t have any competing offers, which limits my negotiating power. I’m considering countering the offer to at least match my previous salary of around $145,000, but I’m unsure how much to ask for without seeming unreasonable. Any advice on how to approach this negotiation would be appreciated!