I saw some SDM at amazon with just 6 yoe with no prior management experience. How does that even possible ? What do they really look for in the SDM interviews? Yoe: 6 TC: 170k
Well where you got your information from?
Sometimes people don’t put in all their info on LinkedIn, I’ve seen that too. But yeah besides that 6 YOE to SDM is possible If you do really really well i guess?
Amazon is the easiest place to break into management. Unlike other FAANGs where you need to atleast be "senior" , Amazon lets you become a manager right after SDE 2. Lots of folks with ~4 yoe start moving into SDM roles.
Wow, unbelievable
I recommend Amazon to everyone who wants to become a manager ASAP.
L5 SDMs are not recommended. Most of the time other L5 SDEs do not want to report to them. There is no point to transfer to their team as one cannot get to L6 role before their manager. Its also harder for them to push back/escalate things. That being said there are many SDE3s/TPMs with 6 YOE and have moved to SDM role.
L5 SDMs are generally strong SDE 2s with enough street cred to command respect. Orgs that don't follow this and make random folks L5 SDMs are the ones that suffer. I saw atleast 2 big sized orgs where the L5 SDM culture was very successful. They're entire leadership up until director was formed like this.
I’ve seen multiple L5 managers promote people to L6. It’s more difficult but far from impossible. Often times that’s a criteria for getting to L6 yourself is to promote someone to L6.
I'm assuming that person was Indian, and this happened in Amazon India.
No. Seeing the same for us Amazon
Also, how credible are these SDMs? Will they be able to manage people in other organizations especially where the experience is fairly high.
Be very careful while hiring SDMs from Amazon. There are 4 paths to become SDM in amazon and u will never know which one u will get. 1. L5 SDM from SDE2 (Most times when u see someone at SDM role with 5/6 yoe total, this is the case. 2. TPM or QAM to SDM -> If u see someone who had project management experience and suddenly u see sdm exp, this is that bench. 3. SDM who were hired from other tech companies. These are also safe, except ones hired from witch. 4. SDM from L6 SDE. These are technically solid and can be considered safe hire.
Very true. Unfortunately this L5 SDM bug has bitten a lot of start ups as well. People with 3 yoe are turning into EMs. There's another thing with Amazon. Literally anybody can become a TPM. I know a business analyst who converted to TPM and now on his path to becoming an SDM. I also know a Fulfilment center associate, who became Operations program manager and then transitioned to TPM This is all for Amazon India BTW
This is also at Facebook. Look up M0. Several companies implemented the whole L5 SDM, M0 Manager structures. I wouldn’t mind 1 or 3 or 4. 2 is someone I would never want to work with unless proven me wrong.
Anything can happen at Amazon.
There should be a reason for anything is possible
SDE l6 with 6 yoe is possible. Levels are horizontal moves.