The Marxist definition of working class (i.e., the proletariat) had nothing to do with income distributions.
Does the person you’re replying to make decisions about how profits are allocated in the company? What product the company is going to make? Do they make the big hiring and firing decisions? No, probably not. They’re likely a software engineer. They sell their labor in order to be able to make money and sustain themselves. Ergo they are part of the working class.
>The Marxist definition of working class (i.e., the proletariat) had nothing to do with income distributions.
You're essentially summing up the flaws in the author's attempt to apply Marxist theory to a modern, capitalist society. The core differentiation between the bourgeoisie and proletariat is financial and social/cultural capital, or lack thereof. Also relevant are education (cultural influence and power) and property ownership, as they relate to upward mobility (this also aligns with the British working/middle/upper class definitions).
>Does the person you’re replying to make decisions about how profits are allocated in the company?
By this definition a Google midlevel engineer without any decision making power who earns near 300k is the working class, but a tech startup COO or CTO making $200k is not; I doubt most people would agree these people are in different classes in modern society. Applying strict Marxist definitions (which as you say lack any consideration of income distribution) to a modern capitalist society is a fallacy.
>They sell their labor in order to be able to make money and sustain themselves.
Doctors, engineers, pharmacists, lawyers, pilots all sell their labor to make money. But they tend to be property owners, own investments/equity (means of production), and are highly skilled, educated, and have cultural capital/respect in society. This aligns with the Marxist bourgeoise and middle/upper-class definition. Whereas a plumber or electrician making $100k who self-owns their business but not their home or any investments does not have the same financial or cultural power and more closely aligns with the definition of proletariat.
With the title of "CTO" at a tech startup, I'd expect one to be a significant shareholder making nominal salary but, ultimately, your point stands: startup executives are just middle management of a distributed R&D department.
Does the person you’re replying to make decisions about how profits are allocated in the company? What product the company is going to make? Do they make the big hiring and firing decisions? No, probably not. They’re likely a software engineer. They sell their labor in order to be able to make money and sustain themselves. Ergo they are part of the working class.