When should I walk away from a recruiter conversation because the comp is too low?

If the stated range is so far below your minimum that no combination of bonus, equity, and sign-on could realistically bridge the gap, walk away early and politely. A useful move before walking away: ask whether they have roles at a higher level or in a different function where the comp might be more aligned. You can say, "I love what you're doing at this company, but I actually think I'm a better fit for these roles — would you be open to discussing those?" If the answer is no and the comp is genuinely out of range, it's not worth four weeks of your time. But for any large tech company, default to staying in — their budgets are larger, their ranges are wider, and negotiation can move numbers much more than the JD implies.