AWS Solutions Architect or SDE?

Amazon
wTmK03

Go to company page Amazon

wTmK03
Feb 7 14 Comments

I know this is subjective and vague, but which career path at Amazon do you think sets you up for success quicker?

Yoe: 7
Current TC: £125k as SDE II

#tech #solutionarchitect #sde #aws #amazon

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TOP 14 Comments
  • Amazon
    awsml13

    Go to company page Amazon

    awsml13
    SA is a sales job. No really coding round. Any one can become SA
    Feb 7 7
    • New
      [<>]

      New

      [<>]
      Lol! He can’t keep his lies straight. He’s probably an intern.
      Feb 9
    • Amazon
      YmKB85

      Go to company page Amazon

      YmKB85
      Partially agree, but this is very arrogant. Not every IT related to code itself. It is like to say a developer knows everything in IT. As SA covers more general IT industry, some of SAs can not code, but they should have their own speciality.
      Feb 12
  • Amazon
    krakrak

    Go to company page Amazon

    krakrak
    SA is almost no coding and a more business-level view. SDE is a lot of coding with a bunch of architecture as well. Decide what you want to focus on first.
    Both will have good opportunities and TC is similar. I'd say as an SDE the path to promotion may be a little clearer, but it's my subjective experience as an SDE who has never been a SA. ymmv
    Feb 7 2
    • If SA is almost no coding, why does Amazon ask coding questions in the interview? On one of my interviews for SA roles I was asked just coding questions when JD didn't have any mention. I was honest and said I can code and put together a script or template for a POC or a demo and the interviewer frowned upon it although I did answer the coding question.
      Feb 7
    • Amazon
      krakrak

      Go to company page Amazon

      krakrak
      You're expected to be able to code something up, but the bar is much lower. I think the coding bar for L5 SA is the same as L4 SDE. I haven't done any interviews for SAs tho, so I may be wrong there
      Feb 7
  • Amazon
    amznoamzn

    Go to company page Amazon

    amznoamzn
    These are two completely different jobs.
    - SDE bands are about 10-15% higher than what SA is for same level (outside current crazy offers for SDEs)
    - SA is about solution building using AWS services vs writing the code that builds the service
    - You can be an SA with no coding experience
    - SA is about external work (mostly) while SDE is about internal work
    - You will hear different things about growth with both. For both, you need to be on the right projects to get visibility for promotion. But I think there is more opportunity to work cross teams or orgs as SA than SDE, where you are focused on developing and growing your service
    Feb 7 0
  • New
    UbPF12

    New

    UbPF12
    SDE comp is better than SA comp for given level
    Feb 7 0
  • Amazon
    lgDn62

    Go to company page Amazon

    lgDn62
    Like another said, what do you like and what do you want to do. Both will make you a healthy living but SDE at higher level pays better usually. AWS SAs focus on customers so almost everything you do will be geared towards interacting with them in some way: proof of concept code samples, webinars, presentations, architecture reviews, service integrations, white papers, Q&A sessions, etc.

    Anyone can be an SA or SDE but not everyone will excel in both roles. SAs require more soft skills and EQ, SDEs require strong hard technical skills but limited or no customer interactions.
    Feb 8 0