AWS L6 or L7?

Visa
ryanbaby

Go to company page Visa

ryanbaby
Jan 7 19 Comments

Currently senior director at Visa. AWS recruiter and hiring manager are pushing me to apply for an L6 which I feel downlevel. I want to apply for either principal engineer or senior engineering manager roles. Any thoughts on leveling? how easy is it to get an interview scheduled for L7?

Finally who makes more money, Principal SDE or Senior Engineering Manager? I prefer to be hands-on technical, so thinking of applying for principal roles

TC: 350k
YOE: 14

#engineering #SDE #security #aws #amazon

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 19 Comments
  • Amazon
    bobmarley9

    Go to company page Amazon

    bobmarley9
    Do not join less than L7. A lot of folks give you reasoning that L6 is senior role but it is not. I’ve seen 7 YOE getting L6 and I’ve also seen people with 20 YOE stuck at L6 drinking the kool aid.

    It’s your career and your money, you decide.
    Jan 7 1
    • EY
      believeiny

      Go to company page EY

      BIO
      icareaboutmylifeasmuchastc
      believeiny
      Completely agree . I have seen both spectrums too . 10 years and L7 and 20 years at L6
      Jan 8
  • Amazon / Eng
    champak22

    Go to company page Amazon Eng

    champak22
    Visa has title inflation honestly L6 would be most likely outcome ic or people manager. L7 if you knock it out of the park. Usually principal sde have more negotiating power for tc and is way more prestigious/influential than l7 sdm, but l7 ic to l7 sdm is worlds apart work wise. Also the hiring team for l7 plus is different, if you have not been reached out by that team chances are they won’t consider l7.
    Jan 7 2
    • Visa
      ryanbaby

      Go to company page Visa

      ryanbaby
      OP
      Thanks, @champak22. This makes sense. I was in touch with principal engineering recruiters earlier for a different role. They didn't even care to update me back after 2 phone screens.

      I've one more question. Does Non-AWS orgs pay same level to AWS ones? I see some principal SDE positions for Non-AWS orgs and planning to apply for them
      Jan 8
    • Amazon / Eng
      champak22

      Go to company page Amazon Eng

      champak22
      Yep same pay
      Jan 8
  • Amazon
    brostopher

    Go to company page Amazon

    brostopher
    You can ask for a L7 loop. But very good chance you will be downleveled to L6
    Jan 7 2
  • Amazon
    toreadоr

    Go to company page Amazon

    toreadоr
    Not sure how would they hire a manager as a L7 IC. Is it something you’ve been advised to do?
    Jan 7 1
  • Amazon
    flip17

    Go to company page Amazon

    flip17
    Don’t join at L6! It’s a never ending promo process to get to L7
    Jan 8 0