And if you can, you're paying 30-50% more than just a year ago.
What is your standard for a mid-level engineer, and what would their salary range be?
If I were to introduce you to some mid-level or upper-level talent, would you pay typical recruiting fees plus provide some employment security to my associates who pass your hiring process? Some startups have high turnover and I wouldn't want to damage their career if you change your mind after hiring them.
Mid level engineers are obviously not hard to find. But in a market where tons of companies choose to locate themselves, and where the cost of living is massively high, engineers will tend to go where the pay is high and/or the product/tech is compelling enough to compensate for the massively high cost of living. This is to be expected, and has nothing to do with the supply of engineers.
But if you want good, you better be prepared to create the environment those will want to work in.