Currently have a large scope at Amazon with good status (L6 promo being filed and top tier 2 years in a row. Got 7 years experience (4 at Amazon). Got offer for Google with higher comp (even compensating for higher col) but L4 (Amazon L5) and the scope feels fairly small (IC). Manager did not impress (was late at interview, did not apologize). On the other hand got another offer for a lesser known company (not startup). Manager seems great, lots of smart people around (ex management consulting), pay on par with Amazon (but lower COL) cool travel and more importantly a large scope, interesting project and lot of freedom. Also head of title. I guess I'm lost between the G on my resume (+ that free food) or having an interesting role with great people I can showcase. Thoughts, blind?
Why is ex management consulting a signal for anything? They have equal amounts of brilliant people as total incompetence.
Sure you're absolutely right. I guess I was trying to convey they were not a small shop. While your mileage may vary the mean and the median intelligence in big3 are still way higher than at say Accenture (and there are exceptions both ways of course). Much like at Google / FB vs. IBM/Oracle nowadays.
Technical or non-technical role(s)? Helps influence the decision a bit
More Product Management / BI. Not SDE.
Ok, I think Product management at google sets you up for a great career long term. Might not be as big of scope, but just by surrounding yourself with smart people, you will learn. Plus, having it on the resume (along with Amazon) solidified your resume for the rest of your career. On the flip side, being a big fish in a smaller pond so to speak is fine too. But I’d go the google route. I’m just one opinion though!
Fuck google. Going back to L4 level isn’t going to help you much. Make sure you know that at what level you want to contribute in team and then make your decision. If I were you, I would try to change my department or team at amazon itself.
AFAIK. GOOGLE L4 = L5. Entry level Google engineers come at L3
I probably wouldn't take a down level if you don't match to any particularly interesting projects.
I would go for the cooler project and team.
Go Google, Google + Amazon on your resume will help make your application stronger elsewhere. Google is a large company and full of interesting challenges, first couple of years may be mundane. You can always move on after grabbing that "ex googler" badge.
You don’t want to stay at Amazon? If you leave I’d go for the cool, interesting work. Rather than the dumb down-leveling offered by Google. Fuck that. Can you reveal the lesser known company name?
You would know it. I love Amazon but where I am at the moment it's pure empire building and reorgs. I feel the path to L7 will be nothing but a long game of thrones episode, and I'm not super keen. Would be interested in coming back at some point for sure.
Ha, I feel exactly the same way about Amazon! Take the opportunity with the lesser known company and kick ass there. If it turns into something bigger, awesome. If it leads you back to Amazon, this time as Principal, that’s cool too.