Amazon SDE1 vs SDE2. Come in at which level?
YOE: 2.5 I am choosing between two Amazon jobs. They are both Java jobs. One is SDE2 and the other is SDE1. SDE2 would ordinarily be the slam dunk, but I’m a Rubyist with scant Java experience (like 2 months). Plus, I haven’t been coding that long (2.5 years). This is my first FANG job. Would it be easier to come in as an SDE1, or should I go SDE2? Obviously, the money will be different, but I fear the PIP.
SDE2 If SDE1 you might get PIP sooner. Many SDE2s and even SDE1s will try to make your life miserable and give nit-picky feedback at everything you’ll do. They’ll try to teach you everything. That’s hard for anyone not a fresher. With SDE2 you’ll have some backbone and bring in ideas from your self-studies. As SDE1 any good ideas you’ll bring in will be overlooked and offend someone.
Do you have offers or are you considering applying to different roles at different levels?
I can pick either team. I passed the onsite.
wow didn’t know they can offer different levels, I did a split loop and both were same level
SDE2 Fake it till you make it. By default, they’ll look down on you so you’ll need to bring yourself up to compensate. That said, whether or not you’ll pass the SDE2 bar is a different story 😉 it’s a very wide level. I’ve seen SDE2 with YoE ranging anywhere from 2 years to 15.
Absolutely SDE2. No reason to intentionally set your career back 2-5 years.
Come as SDE2. Being an SDE1 after industry experience would be stifling. SDE2s will patronize you for little things.
SDE2
I just checked it is an SDE1 loop.
Go for SDE2. Language doesn't matter. Don't worry about the PIP - it's never about the performance, always about your relationship with the manager and peers.