How are Amazon Principal Engineers regarded outside of Amazon?

Amazon
qstn6

Go to company page Amazon

qstn6
Sep 11, 2020 38 Comments

PEs are big deal inside Amazon and part of top 2% talent in the company.

1. But how are they regarded outside? Do other companies value them?

2. What are the typical roles Amazon PEs pickup when they leave?

3. Any other benefits?

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TOP 38 Comments
  • Amazon
    UYwe53

    Go to company page Amazon

    UYwe53
    Recruiters consider Amazon employees equivalent to Google ones. Only Blind idiots think otherwise.
    Sep 12, 2020 21
  • Amazon
    Lfnr39

    Go to company page Amazon

    Lfnr39
    You'll be surprised but Amazon's PE bar is lower than SDE III bar. Internally SDE IIIs are more valuable than PEs. I have interacted with a few PEs and only one of them was actually good. SDE IIIs on the other hand are rivers of wisdom and knowledge.
    Sep 12, 2020 5
    • Amazon
      fk3ngg

      Go to company page Amazon

      fk3ngg
      One thing to consider is that unless you are yourself an SDE3, the types of problems a PE deals with are going to be different than your immediate needs as an engineer.

      An SDE3 will be immensely more valuable to an SDE1/2 than a PE because their scope is expected to be less. Someone who has largescale org impact is unlikely to be overly beneficial to someone at an SDE1/2 level.

      And the scope of problems a PE deals with changes from purely technical/implementation to a hybrid technical/organizational/strategic mix.
      Sep 12, 2020
    • Amazon
      qstn6

      Go to company page Amazon

      qstn6
      OP
      Fk3 put that nicely. That makes sense. SDE1/2 will find SDE3 valuable because they are close to execution while PEs are looking at higher level problems.

      And most of the PEs I have interacted with are super awesome. Some are really top notch. Not sure if that is because of the CDO/eCF org. Those guys have some deep experience.
      Sep 12, 2020
  • Amazon / Eng
    RmOi55

    Go to company page Amazon Eng

    PRE
    Microsoft
    RmOi55
    Related question - how are they regarded inside Amazon?

    If you compare PoA talks from a decade ago vs. recent ones, there's a noticeable difference.
    Sep 11, 2020 3
  • They can get L7 roles at many places depending upon their experience ! However not all is Gold, Amazon’s hiring bar is lower even at PE level. They need a corporate bullshitter to succeed as PE (leadership principals).
    Sep 11, 2020 2
  • Google / Eng
    LeeJaeDong

    Go to company page Google Eng

    PRE
    Amazon
    LeeJaeDong
    Higher than Amazon managers, that’s for sure.
    Sep 11, 2020 1