Taking 3 years to get promoted to SDE 2
I am currently an SDE 1 at Amazon. Now, one of my colleague got promoted to SDE 2 after three years. My question is, is it worth staying 3 years just to get promoted to SDE2? Because after 3 years all your signing bonus have been expired and your stocks vest according to the SDE 1 offer and there is little room to negotiate the base pay. A better solution according to me would be to interview after 3 years for SDE 2 position. That way you get more leeway to negotiate your base pay + better stock options + signing bonus. Let me know your thoughts.
change teams
Still the question remains. If I change team I would need another couple of years to get promoted. I believe I would be in far better position if I would be hired from outside for SDE 2 role
I have friends getting promoted as soon as 9 months after switching teams
Unless the stock offers are way too good ( which are not for Indian employees ), I'd say switch to a newer job after 1 - 1.5 years.
You should be grad you are not piped after 2 years
Is it common to be pipped after 2 years if not promoted?