Long post alert Hi recently got interviewed at Apple IST org and yesterday got a call from recruiter that they are interested to make an offer. Currently working at Amazon Current details Amazon- L6 QAE in Sunnyvale ( 2years, joined as L5 QAE in 2017- 5 years in amazon) Overall experience-12+ years 5th year salary - 174 base, 20RSU Total comp-230-240k 4 questions for blind 1. What level should I expect-ict4 or ict5. Is it a fair enough q to ask the recruiter 2. What should be my offer expectation. My number was 300k total comp for Austin 3. Will there be a salary reduction in Amazon if I move from Sunnyvale to Austin 4. Is it worth to join Apple IST org as I have heard a lot of horror stories in blind. The Apple manager I spoke was really kind (ex-Amazon L6 manager) and said I would be working as a Test lead. It will be a front facing role with 30% hands on coding and automation, 70%lead role. Manager casually said that he ensured the WLB was good for his reports considering how difficult for him to work in Amazon Factors to be considered 1. My current Amazon manager is open to move me to Austin if I wish.. Currently my team works in seattle and I am anyways a remote employee at this point, so working in Sunnyvale or Austin doesn’t matter and need not commute. Not sure on the salary impact if I move from Sunnyvale to Austin 2. My manager is planning to promote me to L6 SDET in Q3 2022 as I have been working on tools development for 2years and I have enough data points to get my promo doc through. I am lucky that my Manager has been very supportive 3. What I want- hands on coding for now and grow as leader to become a Engineering manager with QEs and SDET reports in 4-5 years 4. Apple wants employees to commute to office 3 days a week which I don’t like Details about the interview 2 technical phone rounds by QEs from the same team. LC easy (2 problems, arrays) and automation questions. 5 rounds panel interview that includes 2 coding, 1 testing (test plan test cases) and 2 rounds leadership( behavioral). Coding had 2 LC medium. One array problem and one permutation/ combination DFS problem Nitpick Failed in 2 apple full panel interviews in February 2022 for QA/SDET positions in apple search and pricing teams in AMP org. (5rounds *2 teams - coding round) binary tree, doubly linked list, grid, caching algo problems- LC medium to hard. Automation framework design questions. Each team, I flopped on 1 coding round Snap also I failed in January for SDET position, Lc medium (lucky no dp problem) and automation design and develop scripts questions Next week I have Walmart labs and Adobe sdet interviews coming up Unlike some of the other blind posts, next 2 weeks, I will definitely post the offer details 😊 in the comments section. Currently on H1 visa #engineering #software #qa #sdet #apple #amazon
Amazon L6 SDETs pays more than most SDET jobs out there. Most Apple SDET jobs are QAE roles, you should consider yourself lucky if your offer touch 300k. While Amazon L6 SDET is your ticket to cross 300 - 400k, but it would take more than 2 years to get there soon after promo. The new comp changes may help in expediting that
Thank you for your response and guidance
I have interviewed at least 15 folks from Apple for SDETS role last year and nobody can clear our interview rounds. Apple SDETS are mostly QAE so I would recommend staying at SDET L6 at Amazon. Amazon has the best SDETS in the market based on my experience. Move to Director level to a high growth startup after Amazon. TC can easily reach 500K+
Thank you for the inputs
I just wanted to say thanks for sharing you interview experience. There's not as much info for SDETs out there.
What kind of test plan/cases and behavioral questions were asked ?
Speak about the most ambiguous project I worked, apple.com test plan and cases, how do u handle conflict, why this team in apple, and some q Wch they asked were like are u a contractor in amazon or fill timer, how many times u got promoted in amazon, what’s the difference u saw as a full timer vs consultant as I initially started my career in Wipro, how do u prioritize multiple project
Can i dm u for some pointers?
1. I don’t know 2. I feel 300k is less (whether apple gives u or not is a different question), but don’t think 300k tc is high is Austin (consider inflation rates coming up / already happening very soon). 3.yes. There will be. I moved from Seattle to Austin recently, there is no change. But moving from Bay Area to Austin u will see a dip in tc as per amz hr. 4.I don’t know Overall comment:- wait for pcs release at amz. (Few more days).Not sure how much true the bc increase is.for existing resources. Based on many other comments and afaik L6 sdet is not common / easily spotted role. Seems like u might also get extra package once u become L6 sdet.
Thank you
Today apple manager directly called me and said the numbers are too high and the numbers they could offer is not even close and he can’t offer ict5 for this role. He said more details will be given by the recruiter.. thank u for attending the interview and take care.. I thanked the manager for showing courtesy to call me.. recruiter pinged and said she wants to connect tomorrow. But I don’t think it’s gonna help.. blind folks, please let me know if any QAE/sdet roles are open in any apple team. Thanks
Not surprised but that's the sad state apple can't even pay $ for your experience. Ask recruiter what's the max they could pay you. It'll be a good pointer for your internal move and for other folks here. Also I don't think a different team would beat your ask. It's gonna be same across teams. Either take what they offer or forget apple.
How much where they oferring you? I Dont think you ever mentioned that in the post?
Amazingly detailed post much appreciated. You would make a fine QAE lead
Gave my PCs -250k tc for 2022 to the recruiter and she asked what other interview is pending. I said Walmart is pending on 04/25. She looked at my PCs and said still my expectation is very high. I asked what’s the maximum u can offer.. she said she would revert. I don’t understand this recruiter as she never told a number for once. just says, she ll check on it. Usually recruiter gives the max number and if it doesn’t work out, we say goodbye. This one has been in a limbo state for more than a month. Still didn’t come up with any number.. should I even expect an offer in this case? Never seen such a weird behavior from recruiter. Is the delay really because she wants to get me a best offer or is she shopping for a cheaper candidate
Internal or external recruiter?
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Appreciate your detailed post. Apple takes its own time to extend actual offer so use it and negotiate as much while you complete your other interviews. But I would say Amazon L6 SDET is a great trajectory if it's already happening to you. With upcoming comp adjustment I believe your TC should be better than what apple offers. 1) ICT4 for sure 2) 300k for Austin as apple qa is too much stretch. You'll be lucky if you get it 3) I guess Amazon would adjust based on location. Ask your HR 4) no first hand experience but yes I've seen several posts that IST is worst at Apple. So use it to leverage for your comp adjustment next month and see if you can get L6 SDET sooner. Get apple Austin offer, get L6 SDET and ask for Austin move and make sure Amazon L6 SDET Austin TC is better than apple's.
Thank you for your inputs
A quick question, usually recruiters discuss on the numbers and once the numbers are agreed by both parties, it goes thru a series of approvals to release the formal offer letter right? Is Apple any different than this?reason u mentioned that apple May take a few weeks to the release offer..