[inkyoto]

The math is a bit off.

One day amounts to 24 hours.

Assuming no overtime, one day translates into 3x 8 hour shifts, or 3x engineers. Suddenly, $260k a year buys 3x engineers.

Now, assuming that the dark factory stuff can actually work as conjectured, it will work 24x7, 365 days a year, it does not require annual leave, sick leave, observance of public holidays etc. So $365k (adjusted for 24x7, 365) works out to be a cheap deal.