Many people forget that their Amazon prime subscription includes unlimited* free photo storage (terms of use apply) I love it and it keeps getting better with each new app release. Worth checking out as an option.
There are seriously dangerous attitudes in this thread regarding what constitutes token invalidation. Hire someone skilled at secure auth architecture. You should have at least 2-3 senior engineers who are very well versed in this if this company is serious about doing anything related to protected patient healthcare data. One person's opinion should never end up being the only input for super critical decisions like you are trying to make.
As a person without the degree that works at one of these companies, I can honestly say that it's incredibly difficult to get in. What I haven't seen anyone talk about is how it haunts you constantly. Not necessarily coming from other people, but knowing that if someone wanted to call you incompetent, it'd be on you to prove otherwise since you dont have the degree to back up your knowledge. I wish I could go back and get a CS degree just to tame the thought that it could all fall apart so easily.
Having done both startup/agency work and working as a "cog in a big machine", hands down a "cog in a big machine" is far better for someone early in their career, looking to build good engineering habits.
1) Most startup code is hot garbage.
2) High caliber engineering practices rub off on you. - Surrounding yourself with talent and writing software is the best way to be good at what you do. Being in a small startup, that is almost certainly not going to happen. The numbers just don't allow for it.
3) Don't underestimate the draw of a major player like Google on your resume. - Before working for one of these companies, my LinkedIn mailbox would get maybe one or two messages a year from recruiters. Now my problem is making sure to politely decline all of the messages I get in a timely fashion.
4) A hefty sign-on bonus, HEALTH INSURANCE, and in most cases bonuses or stock offerings normally come as part of the deal with a Google offer. - Do you want a house, car, education, children, retirement? If you answer yes to any of these, a company like Google will give you a great financial foundation to work from so that once you've established yourself you can take more calculated risks with a much better safety net.
"Protected by Viper, stand back."