10 ms·
I worked for Amazon (like you:) but that was 5 years ago. Things were a lot more breakneck then - but I can see how things could’ve slowed down with the 3x dev
by SubuSS 6y ago
I worked for Amazon (like you:) but that was 5 years ago. Things were a lot more breakneck then - but I can see how things could’ve slowed down with the 3x dev count now.
As many have pointed out, it depends on teams. I have seen engineers in retail whose sole job was ensuring data entered the catalog correctly through the input system and fix any errant data. I also saw teams like mine (early kindle / early dynamodb) literally perform magic. We launched dynamo across the world with a <15 person team. But it had 3 principals and 5 sde3s in a time when the whole company had <100 principals. That team remained highly motivated through my tenure but the members went on to different parts overtime because it was too much talent concentrated in one spot.
In short I look at FAANG as flexibility. you have a major life event, you will probably have enough good will to work it out with lighter contributions. You want to build bleeding edge software, you can do that too.
I’d suggest finding the local legends now, see what they are working on, building deep knowledge about it, ask for an interview and join them. In a big place like that, there are always movers and shakers - they are also looking for motivated and talented devs for their team, so it is mutually beneficial. It will only work with your initiative and a bit of luck though.
FWIW - I still have some of my old contacts there. Message me if you want a referral. Good luck!
- adreamingsoul 6y agoSubuSS's advice is sound.
- tixocloud 6y agoWould love to connect to those engineers in retail :) We're looking at solving data quality issues and would be useful to understand how they are doing it.
- MuffinFlavored 6y ago> But it had 3 principals and 5 sde3s in a time when the whole company had <100 principals. I can only imagine what principal / SDE3s that deliver products as big as DynamoDB got paid in bonuses/salary. Total comp had to be $500k-$1m+, no?
- b34r 6y agoThat’s not how software development works
- b34r 6y agoNot sure why I was downvoted, it’s absolutely true. SDE is not a meritocracy.
- mdoms 6y agoIf you're concerned about your downvotes perhaps you can give us your theory of how it works.
- VRay 6y agoCompensation is decided by a hierarchy of managers, with each manager giving his subordinates a budget to compensate his subordinate managers, trickling down layer-by-layer to the peons. If your manager's manager's manager is awesome at self-promotion, you'll make more money. The End
- lord_braleigh 6y ago^ This guy reads the Dictator's Handbook.
- hemdawgz 6y agounfortunately, self-promotion matters a lot, sometimes. Shitty or competitive places will require it.
- cerberusss 6y agoYou're downvoted because you post a shallow dismissal. Look it up in the guidelines, link at the bottom of the page.
- jasonpeacock 6y agoNope. There's no bonuses at Amazon (at PE/SDE levels at least), and there are compensation bands for each level. A top-ranked SDE3 that delivered DynamoDB should have similar compensation as a top-ranked SDE3 working on internal tools.
- tmaly 6y agoI think that is solid advice. Take the bull by the horns and make your own destiny. There is not much downside to reaching out to the legends but so much upside potential here.