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A software company emailed an engineer a signed offer stating that she would start work as director of security on July 1, receive a $20,000 relocation payment, and be employed "subject to the company's standard at-will policy." During a video call, the company's chief operating officer told the engineer, "We need you here by July 1. You can safely turn down other offers and move now." The engineer accepted, rejected a competing one-year contract with another company, sold her house at a discount to close quickly, moved across the country, and signed a one-year apartment lease near the company's office.
Three days before the start date, the company canceled the position after losing a customer. It paid nothing and argues that the engineer had no enforceable contract because employment was at will and she gave no consideration beyond preparing to work.
Analyze whether the engineer can recover under promissory estoppel and what measure of relief is most likely.