How bad is the WLB at Amazon? I am currently the CTO for a 100MM in revenue , 450 people company used to working some weekends here and there and about 45/50 hours a week. Always connected. I know the drill. I may be joining as a Sr SDM. I have a 3 yo and a second on the way. My wife works as well. Pay is significantly better, but I am trully concerned about losing my weekends and time off. Advice? Opinions? Experience? is it trully that extremme?
We’re you also a sr dev manager?
Don't read too much blind. Remember Amazon is a big company, 50K employees in just AWS. It will be team dependent, as long as you don't suck you should be fine.
I'd assume CTO of 100mm company sounds like far more weekend work.
100MM in revenue, but yes, lots of fire fighting
You will probably work less at at Amazon
Yeah ... compared to a cto for 450 people - you’re gonna be much calmer ... (came as a lead developer from a 100+ people startup)
Sr. SDM, previously have been a CTO of several startups (up to 100-200 person scale). I work hard at Amazon, but usually varies between 45-50 hours a week. Some weeks are 55-60 though it is rare these days - back when I was gunning for L7 promo, I pulled 60-65 hour weeks for 5-6 months on end, but luckily through that now. I used to work far, far harder as an early stage startup CTO, btw. The difference is the intensity of those hours at Amazon is much higher with 7-8 hours of high octane meetings in a single day.
Can you please comment on SDM L6 to SSDM L7 promotion. How long does it take typically ? How long did it take you ? Is it dependent on luck/availability of an appropriate position ?
The promo is the most brutal thing I have ever gone through. I was held to an impossible standard and had to work 70 hour weeks for 6 months to make it happen. I was at Amazon for just under two years when it happened but that is exceptional. Probably 3-7 years is normal, assuming it happens at all. I think you make your own luck at this level by writing PRFAQs, getting resources, and convincing others to go along with your plans, but some luck comes into play - the quality of the team you build, org Dynamics, HC availability etc.
I was in Amazon 6 years, it was great! Rarely worked on weekends, in comparison with MSFT probably even less...
How often did you work weekends at Microsoft?
Near major conferences there are no weekends