Amazon L5 to L6 Growth opportunity
I am invited to an onsite interview (@ Seattle) for SDE role (in one of the AWS teams). I tried telling my recruiter that I am only interested in L6+ type of roles if they want to submit my profile. She is insisting on L5 is the only role available in that team (AWS..., sorry I can't name the team, otherwise it would be too obvious). I am tempted to move forward to the onsite interview for this L5 role. But would like to know about the growth opportunity moving up from L5. How long does it take? Is it dependent on the number of years in the company? performance? or your manager or lead or senior member in the team has to vacate his/her seat for you to get promoted? What is the average TC that an L5 can expect? YOE: 16+ Current TC: 180k (base) + 40k+ (bonus) (NYC)
New grads become L5 in about 18 months. L5 to L6 is extremely difficult mainly because there aren't opportunities available to own a large project. There are way too many L5 SDEs than there is work in every team, and so large projects get divided across many people and makes promotion difficult for everyone. Totally dependent on luck. Don't join on L5.
Donβt join as L5 with that experience! It takes about 1.5-2 years for a new grad to become L5 and Amazon is fully saturated with L5 as it is considered a terminal level.
16 years employed... And willing to accept an L5? Don't do it. Don't fall for it
Amazon is notorious for down leveling and successful L5 to L6 promotion takes ~3 years on average. With 16 YOE, you should insist on interviewing for L6.
You are getting shafted. They can do far better but if itβs a bump up and you want to move, then donβt let anyone stop you.
Recruiter insisting on L5 for 16+ yoe? That's bad. Go for the interview to have a practice, if you get the offer just reject it. Would be a good lesson to recruiter.
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