I have an offer from Amazon for an Applied Scientist role (heavy on NLP and ML) and a Data Scientist role at Google. The salaries are pretty close if justified by the location. My Ph.D. background is in EE with a focus on developing an ML solution. I have a few questions from blinders that would highly help me making a decision. Which one of the two (DS or AS) I can expect to grow more in terms of TC and career opportunity? I like the Applied Scientist job description more but Google is also a great company and has a great WLB. I might be easily burnt out at Amazon. Which one I can expect to have a more challenging/rewarding job? I appreciate any advice.
Data science may mean analytics in big tech, I'd be very careful with google here
Can you elaborate? I also had a feeling that not much of ML/modeling is being done at Google. How hard is to shift from DS to MLE at Google?
MLE is also not research, it's an engineer. Is it what you want? At google you probably need to look for research scientist positions
Please get the Google offer. Join a company that actually cares about its employees.
thanks.
you know what, he’s right!
The only right answer is not Amazon. If you didn't have any other offer, it's fine, but 90% likelihood you'll be gone before 2 years. Take Google.
I have another offer from a startup focusing solely on ML. I like the job but not sure what their direction will be in a couple of years.
Don't take the startup offer lightly.
Please ignore the people telling you to go to Google here. A Google DS role is NOT equivalent to a Google RS role. An Amazon AS role is a well respected role across companies, provides opportunities to publish significant amounts of leading edge research, as well as shipping ML systems that have real customer impact. All other things being equal, sure, Google pays early career employees better and has much better benefits, but it is not worth taking a role that will track you away from your career objectives.
thanks. the argument makes sense.
wrong - Google DS is not Google RS while Amazon DS is nothing compared to Google DS, I'd say Google DS are mostly Phd in stats (Google RS are mostly CS phd from top programs), comparable to Amazon AS to say the least.
It’s complicated. DS at Google is not like elsewhere. It’s mostly pure stats. If you want to switch to MLE you’d have to reinterview (and likely be down-leveled). You can’t tell from the title (at either place) what kind of work you’d be doing. I know of some data science teams here that are entirely or mostly SWE. As others said, it depends on other factors too, like how do you want to be treated as a human being? What benefits matter to you? Many AS at Amazon are isolated, surrounded by non-DS.
Yes. I heard there are DS teams that do ML at Google. Tried to be matched with them, the manager was out for vacation. How easy is to move to the other teams after you join Google.
If you’re an engineer, it’s very easy. If you’re a DS... there are a lot fewer openings and less consistency in tooling. Feel free to DM me (but I’m not very active here, so apologies in advance if I take weeks to get back to you.)
Do you mind sharing offer numbers at either places ?
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The whole field of data science/ML is so new (in the main stream) that titles are irrelevant because all titles are conflated with all other titles. Both have equal opportunity to grow TC. You’re right, amazon probably has a higher burn out rate on average. If you’re interested in advancing your career go work on whatever enables you to further your skill set. If you’re interested in having the “right” title go with google. If you’re looking for a place to settle into and basically ride the wave, google is also probably the bet.