Evaluate Amazon vs Zoom offer

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jBJn25

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jBJn25
May 26, 2021 13 Comments

Would love to get opinions on these 2 final offers.

Me: Fresh CS PhD grad
TC: $30K grad student stipend

Amazon SDE II Seattle offer on Alexa Infra
Base: $160K
RSU: 87 Units
Sign On: $135K first year, $100K second year

Zoom ZP4 Software Engineer in San Jose
Base: $228K
RSU: $275K over 4 years. 1 year cliff then quarterly vests. refreshers only come every 4 years
Sign On: $25K
Bonus: 8% of base

Points of concern
1. WLB. Amazon has stupid pager and on call duty. Zoom seems like I’ll be working with teams out in China
2. Pip Culture: self explanatory at Amazon, idk about Zoom
3. Green card policy: idk
4. Stock prospect: Will Amazon go even higher? Will Zoom bust after pandemic?
5. Is this the right level for new PhD grad?

Thanks in advance
#engineering #software #swe

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TOP 13 Comments
  • Zoom
    mTxx03

    Go to company page Zoom

    mTxx03
    Idk about Amz but I do feel well working at Zm in term of wlb and learning.
    May 27, 2021 4
  • Definitely Zoom. Did you negotiate the offer?
    May 27, 2021 2
    • AdRoll
      jBJn25

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      jBJn25
      OP
      Yep, final offers. Could you share your thoughts on Zoom over Amazon?
      May 27, 2021
    • Larger growth opportunity, still expanding, seems to have a great product minded CEO who cares about the product and the employees. Based on what I see on Blind, Amazon seems like the last place I'd want to work. Zoom doesn't seem to have too many people on here, but to me that indicates happy employees not looking for an outlet like Blind to complain. 🤷🏻‍♂️
      May 27, 2021
  • Zoom offer is awesome for fresh PhD. From what I have heard from my friends at A, the Alexa org is a shit show.
    May 26, 2021 0
  • New / Eng
    eskG52

    New Eng

    eskG52
    Definitely the right level for PhD. I would take Amazon without thinking twice. Amazon stock has way higher growth potential than Zoom. I work at Amazon in Seattle current and if you don’t like your team at Amazon you can easily switch. Not sure if this is the case at Zoom but Amazon has tons of teams working on problems in just about every space. Amazon gets a lot of hate here on blind but there are some great teams / orgs. I think the potential difference in compensation here accounting for COL, Stock Growth, and sign on bonus is a couple hundred thousand dollars.
    May 26, 2021 0
  • Most of the guys are simple hating Amazon !!! I had my Zoom interview with them too, considering that I would really think you are better with Amazon.. as it pushes you and sharpens you !!!

    I am an Amazon hater too but in this case I think ppl have to be logical as well
    May 27, 2021 0