Tech IndustryOct 31, 2019
BoeingqhjX28

AWS vs Azure

EDIT: Msoft just counter-offered, so updated numbers below. EDIT 2: Accepted Azure! hey everyone. exciting times, im fortunate enough to have offers from both azure and aws, partially thanks to this community for helping me interview prep and know what to expect! I have 2 yoe, but this is my first tech job. Both are cleared positions, fine since I have a TS / SCI. I've visited both sites (Virginia sites for govt work), met the team etc. and both seem really intelligent and relaxed. msoft team is younger. Compensation is comparable. AWS is current king but azure rapidly growing, and landed JEDI, so it's a tough call for me. TC Breakdown: - AWS (IoT Greengrass, SDE I): Base: $130k Signon Cash: $57k (32 year 1, 25 year 2) Signon Stock: 45 shares ($80k atm, paid out mostly years 3, 4) Clearance Bonus: $15k TC year 1: $188k (includes relo, 401k match and avg performance bonus) TC year 2: $167k TC year 3: $172k TC year 4: $172k - Msoft Azure (SDE II, level 61): Base: ̶$̶1̶3̶0̶k̶v $140k Signon Cash: ̶$̶1̶0̶k̶ ̶ ̶ ̶(̶i̶m̶m̶e̶d̶i̶a̶t̶e̶)̶ $20k over 2 years Signon Stock: ̶ ̶$̶3̶0̶k̶ $80k (25% vest year 1, then 6.5% every 3 months) Clearance Bonus: ̶ ̶$̶2̶6̶k̶ $28k TC year 1: $219k (includes relo, 401k match and avg performance bonus) TC year 2: $183k TC year 3: $173k TC year 4: $173k Actual roles themselves feel very similar. Work with a small team on building the cloud, and perform govt devops when it arises due to clearance. Amazon is a bit more device facing. Yes Amazon is slightly higher TC, but i hear WLB sucks there compared to microsoft, and I'll have to wait a few years for amazon TC to catch-up... No guarantee I'll be in one spot for more than 2 years at the moment due to family circumstances. And I know one of the microsoft guys works entirely from home... so there's proof that it's pretty laid back / accommodating. So, what does Blind think I should do?

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Google The Old Nite Oct 31, 2019

Nice poll options lol. And congrats!

Boeing qhjX28 OP Oct 31, 2019

thanks! you stinkers didn't even give me a chance to interview, otherwise GCP would be up for consideration too ;)

Amazon shmeckly Oct 31, 2019

the most important factor in your decision should be how well you will work with your manager and team. that makes way more difference than almost anything else since the work looks very similar

Boeing qhjX28 OP Oct 31, 2019

thanks very much for the insight @shmeckly. I could see myself on both teams, which is what is making this so difficult. However, I am leaning toward Microsoft, as it seems like I'll be more 'on the ground level' of a new product: building azure and bringing it to new markets.

Facebook mturtle Oct 31, 2019

The AWS level is new grad level. Go Azure and if you don't like it, reinterview at amzn to try to get SDE2 in a year.

Boeing qhjX28 OP Oct 31, 2019

Great point. I was thinking that as well but wasn't sure, since I don't know the levels well.

McAfee draxadic Oct 31, 2019

Microsoft is a much better work environment overall. There are some great spots in aws but very manager dependent.

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KkDL36 Oct 31, 2019

Doesn’t Amazon offer a 45k bonus for a TS/SCI? Or do you need an FSP as well. Also what team at azure? I just accepted a position for C+E doing similar cleared work.

Polaris Alpha bx44 Oct 31, 2019

Amazon clearance bonus is 5k for TS or 20k for TS with FSP. An additional 25k is given for oncall support. It's separate because it's "optional". Microsoft is 40k for TS with FSP, but oncall is expected and not optional.

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KkDL36 Oct 31, 2019

Ah okay, thanks for the clarification on Amazon. I have a FSP + on call at Microsoft but the bonus is 25% of base, not a flat rate.

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XAIP83 Nov 4, 2019

Could you share how you got offers from them? I also have a TS/SCI, and would like to use it for the next role after going through a year of the investigation.

Booz Allen Hamilton osnfbiwk Jul 3, 2022

Been a few years since this thread started, are you still at Microsoft doing Azure work OP?