I spoke with the recruiter right in early December 2017. Then I had a introduction phone screen with the manager, and then a small technical phone screen, before they brought me in for an In-Person interview. This whole process took about 3 weeks. I had the In-Person one week before Christmas 2017.
I should say that before they brought me in, they gave me a coding assignment which I spent about a day on, even though they said I shouldn't be expected to spend more than a few hours on it. I went way over that as I figured I was trying to make a good impression.
While at the In-Person interview I met: One of the Product Owners, 2 Developers, the VP of Engineering, and the Manager of DevOps. All these people expressed a deep need and desire to have someone come in with my seniority to help them with their platform. I thought for sure I had made a great impression and that an offer would come before Christmas.
Instead, I heard from them After New Year's that they wanted to start me as a contract to hire, and then I had to wait for them to talk to the CEO about the rate I would want.
I had found out that the CEO is playing games and had decided to low-ball with an insane offer that was insulting. I found out that they wouldn't even discuss what I would be converted to for salary AFTER converting to full-time, permanent.
The whole process and the whole company has left a bad-taste in my mouth and I warn anyone against working here that the CEO likes to play games which is affecting his entire tiny company.