Hello! I'm currently aspiring to become an Applied Scientist in Amazon. I will be joining Amazon this coming October as a SDE1. Meanwhile, I'll be taking on a 2 years part-time Masters in CS (focusing on ML & AI). As I will be working in AWS (and potentially getting promoted during this couple of years, in a non-ML related tasks), if I were to apply for a AS role after graduation, would I be downleveled? I would really appreciate if someone could give some guidance on this journey towards this path. Thanks for reading!
Where are you doing 2 years ms cs from? Omscs usually takes 3 years
I’m not doing an online masters. Will be one at a local college, pretty good rep at the area where I’ll be working. The programme states 2 years for part-time, along with a research programme during the second year summer.
You can become a research engineer. Very hard to become AS specializing in ML without a PhD. It's a difficult field.
Doesn't a research engineer/scientist need PhD as well?
So from what I have researched, AS does both research and engineering implementations as well right? I believe I will have the technical chops down, just not that confident with my researching skills. How can I differentiate myself (in a good way) from other Masters or PhD holders?
You need a PhD . in my org we also prefer a strong publication record .
Would you say that it’s impossible to get the role with just Masters?
Depends on the org. In places where as is actually required to do research , yes . With a masters you might become an l4 as , but when it comes to performance comparisons and promotions a person with a PhD will almost always win out
To do ML without PhD, you would need to actively market your relevant side projects on git or medium. Imo in industry you dont need phd for ml but due to oversupply of phds, phd had become implicit prereq
My experience is that the mindset of an engineer and a scientist is very different. Many SDEs that turn to me to help them moving to science simply lacks the discipline to do good science. Pulling libraries and out-of-the-box algorithms is not doing science. I think the big misconception is that SDEs with years of experience can learn ML in weekend bootcamps and short online courses. Sure, you can learn the fundamentals, but where do you get the experience actually using it and maybe even improving upon it. The very reason why Phds are ahead is because thats what you mostly do during your studies.
None of the points above answers op's questions. Once you are in Amazon you can definitely switch roles. There's a minimum requirement to switch roles though. I think you need to publish papers not just in AMLC but also in outside A-list conferences. Also, ask your manager if he would support it, if so what's the path forward. AS 1 requirements are passing SDE-1 coding bar plus good amount of research experience which you can get once you start publishing papers.
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With the overabundance of PhD applicants these days, it's increasingly difficult.
Difficult doesn’t mean impossible. Just trying to ask for advice on how I can better my odds working towards this path, differentiating myself from the others who may have better academia results than I do. Thanks! Would love to hear if you have any advice. :)