Validate if he/she's a good fit for your team first. Usually it takes time. Equity has a permanent effect and you don't want to make a decision in haste.
Ok, let me drill down into to a little bit. You say, "equity has a peramanent effect". But don't most equity contracts have a vesting period, and thus if you fire the engineer before the vesting period is up well the person forfeits that equity?
... seems like this is not so peramanent. Unless I'm misunderstanding something and need some education in this (and if I am, please let me know, as I've had this happen to me on at least one occasion and maybe I'm owed some compensation after all)
... seems like this is not so peramanent. Unless I'm misunderstanding something and need some education in this (and if I am, please let me know, as I've had this happen to me on at least one occasion and maybe I'm owed some compensation after all)