Is this a good offer? ~$333 year 1TC 208 base / 110 y1 sign on (+5% stock). This number drops in Y2 as stock increases. Current TC (at a public company now) is about 380 (per year) at grant. I haven’t recalculated with recent stock prices. I am currently at a staff ish level with 10+ yoe, so might be a level title hit as well. Amazon has a bad design rep but the role fits a lot of what I want (devices group) so am seriously considering it. What questions should I ask to know if it’s one of the better teams? Can I push this offer more? I’m also interviewing with another FAANG and a few startups, so this isn’t the end all be all for me.
DDG is one of the best design orgs at AMZN, if not the best IMO. Culturally and organizationally kind of isolated from the broader company and design groups for better and for worse. I have direct experience with almost everyone there, happy to chat abt your team or manager.
+1
Have any more insight into the different design teams at Amazon? I Found a couple positions that looked interesting. I think one was DDG
Location? 333 is above band for L6 in Seattle, so I assume bay?
Yeah Bay Area.
It’s a strong offer - probably close to near top of band for L6 - and as far as design teams at Amazon go you can’t really pick a better one than DDG, though I only have experience with the Seattle based studio.
Good offer
If you’re trying to negotiate higher, your best bet is to get a higher offer elsewhere as leverage. You can let the other companies know that you have an Amazon offer in hand, which should help expedite the process and hopefully get competing offers sooner
Nothing like a 6 figure sign on. Even with their shitty vesting schedule.
Yeah it surprised me - never seen that big of a sign on in design before but I think it’s cause I’m at a higher level now (with higher comp targets) so they are trying to make up ground
No, the big sign on is to distract away from the unfavorable vesting schedule. Averaged out, it’s relatively comparable to middle of the band for that level.
When you say bad reputation, what specific aspects are you worried about? I know it’s a big place but with the very easy ability to move around internally once you’re in and the big pockets of quality teams with good wlb, I just don’t see this as an issue you couldn’t navigate to make it a good place for you. I’ve really enjoyed my experience here.
Anecdotally this is what I’ve heard: Not a design led culture, design seen as mock makers not strategic drivers, subordinate to PMs, forced curve performance management system and general toxic culture, bad WLB, no appreciation for craft in what gets shipped. Not saying I think all of this true (and the team I talked with seems somewhat insulated) just what I’ve picked up on and heard.
That’s a nice sign on bonus so sounds worth trying it for a year and see if you want to stay, if it sucks you can’t go too wrong.
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How many years of experience do you have?
10+