Moving to technical AI role
Hi all SPM, been at Amazon for about a year. My background is a masters in technical field with some coding experience. Spent some time in consulting prior to Amazon - top tier- and looking to transition to a role eventually where I can work on AI related tech - and I want to get my hands dirty and actually write production code and build transferable skills to other tech companies. It ain't going to happen in my current role. 1) Any suggestions for how to make the transition? I'm thinking PM->TPM->SDE or SDM - is that even possible? What can I do to make myself more attractive for those roles. 2) What sort of lifestyle can I expect in those different roles? I understand there is a lot of variation in those roles...but any info would be useful 3) Finally were I to stay at Amazon - would my comp change in those different roles. 4) any other thoughts? Thanks all!!
There's not much chance you can side channel yourself into either an SDE role or MLE role for a top tech company. It's mental hunger games getting into SDE roles and everyone has to do the interviews. If you're serious about being an SDE, you need to study computer science (algorithms and data structures in particular). Get cracking the coding interview and master the first 9 chapters. That is not a replacement for a CS degree but will get you 50% of the way there. I'd also recommend taking Princeton Algorithms I and II on coursera with Bob Sedgwick (he helped pioneer the modern field, student of Knuth). Once you have basic SDE skills (these are just the absolute basics) and you want to try your hand at real computer science, then you're ready for machine learning and/or AI. Take Peter Norvig's Udacity AI course for starters, followed by Andrew Ng's ML course. Once you have a basic understanding of AI and machine learning (these two courses are the basics), you will be ready for the udacity 6 month long deep learning nanodegree. Note that these are all courses I have taken on top of my BS and MS in computer science with a concentration in AI and ML, just to be on par with the top tech talent, and I study and code every single day. This will be your life, so if you want it then it needs to be your passion. If you're doing it for a paycheck you'll never make it (too much competition). I took a massive 100k pay cut just to come here from another top company and change fields from core SDE to AI/ML, so clearly it's not about the money. All the best to you.
Totally agree -it's the Most competitive field and if you want to actual "machine learning" you will have to fight it out from the bottom-be prepared to spend the next 2-3 years
This might be the absolute best post ever, it's also sobering. Everyone who is interested in CS seems to be competing hardcore for ML jobs. It's been a dream of mine too, I study everyday but I have given up on doing it at a "top tech company" instead I have come up with my own practical needs and do it at home. While making the bucco bucks elsewhere. Don't get me wrong getting the chance to learn from the rest of you would be awesome, but no degree and I always shoot myself in the interview. Anyways, also great suggestions on course work for studying!
how do you feel about your lifestyle at Amazon? I'm interviewing for a technical account MGMT role in SF but don't want to be burned out. 55 hours a week is fine but not more unless really needed.
Does SPM mean Senior Product Manager?
Sir Paul McCartney
There is a 14 month intensive course for becoming an SDE at Amazon. The pilot program just started, and there will be more opportunities to apply after December. The course is full-time, and you put your job on pause while continuing to earn your current salary. From there, there is a course called MLU, geared toward training SDEs in ML sciences to enable them to better work alongside applied scientists, begin their own research, etc. The time requirements are one full day a week for a couple of months. The course is offered through the consumer Core ML team. If you like PM work, TPM route is a good one, with a lot of autonomy. Any technical role will pay considerably more than non-tech. There is a TPM that reports to the VP of Core ML in consumer that you should definitely talk to. Don't want to name names but PM me if you're interested.
Who all can apply for this 14 month intensive course ?
You have to be based in Seattle, L4+ & be at Amazon for at least a year. You also would need to take a knowledge/skills assessment to demonstrate proficiency in math. The wiki page is called "Amazon Technical Academy (ATA)"
You can do PMT>TPM>SDM. I know a few people who did it. SDE is a stretch and will probably set you back a level. Take online coding courses, the tech bar is just SDE 1, and it is pretty low this days
Sde1 bar at AMZN is still no joke. A lot of talented people miss the bar, or meet it and don't raise it. L59 at Microsoft is a lot easier to get into than L4 SDE at AMZN.
SDE most likely the highest band -your best bet would be PM in a core ML team and transition to SDE in a year