Amazon's L5 (SDE II) is the most ridiculous level in the tech industry
I've seen a rookie 1.5 YOE recently promoted SDE II and a 10 YOE - can qualify to be a staff engineer elsewhere but stuck promotion due to a bad manager SDE II. And the fact that due to stack ranking and your relation with your manager, the 10 YOE SDE II can be stack ranked below the 1.5 YOE SDE II. 280k 7 YOE
This is so true. Amazon leveling is ridiculous.
Is Google L4 SWE II better? L4 to L5 promotions doable?
Easier than amazon for sure. But again manager has to be supportive, but definitely easier in terms of efforts to become a senior
So is l6. Many of the older ones are definitely staff worthy or Principal/Distinguished at a smaller places . Lot of l+1 work for L-1 pay and bananas
I feel like you compete with fewer folks to get to L7 though and L6 is a terminal level. L5s compete with like 10 others to get to the next level.
Get your point . But if someone’s stuck as a SDE2 for 10 years the problem lies with them not their manager. One solid piece of advice that I have received early on in my career was “you own your career progression and do what it takes to go where you want” and sometimes that means quitting and finding the right place that values you.
Sometimes you are just not at the right place at the right time, don't get the right projects, join Amazon as a down level SDE I at 4 YOE, have 10 other L5s who want to get promoted before you, go through reorgs, managers quitting Amazon, switching teams hence resetting progress and not in a situation to quit due to not having the time to Leetcode or being busy with your family commitments.
If they're truly qualified for staff, why don't they leave? 10 years of experience alone does not automatically qualify you as staff level
I'm talking about the 10 YOE folks who are actually that good to be staff elsewhere. "Why don't they leave?" Because not everyone has the time to Leetcode.
Majority SDE-2 are mostly Pip fodders or low paid slaves in Amazon.
Lol yeah there are some SDE IIs who get paid 190k just because they switched teams right before OLR and were used as Focus URA quota on the new team, cleared Focus but the LE rating meant 0 increase and 0 new stocks.
Yes brother, we live in a shitty place. Amazon says supposed to drive your growth yourselves, but now and then SDM's are the ones who are creating obstacles.
I am one such SDE2. Feel hopeless. After waiting 2 years for my 2nd promo attempt SDM said it's 50% chance doc will go through. Tired and feel foolish. Got stuck with in laws visiting when I wanted to interview and then got to do surgery for newly found medical condition and then met with an accident. Inspite of all this gave 200% to the team while newly joined SDE2 who joined as SDM knew her and helped her get hired was on medical leave but must have gotten paid more. I m stupid
This post made me chuckle
This is 100% true. Ridiculous