I need Blind’s help in deciding if I should consider jumping ship to AWS. I was recently reached out to for a security engineer position at AWS. I have close to 3 years of experience. Recruiter wants me to interview as an L4 because it’s easier to get in as an L4 and “I can grow” once I get in and said he’d make an offer I can’t refuse. However, I don’t want to make a lateral move given what I hear about AWS on here. Is AWS really as bad as the Blind mob makes it out to be? I mean I am 25 and single and don’t mind working 40+ hours for a $100k more than my 🥜 TC here. And I don’t really get why PIP really scares anyone, unless they’re on a visa. You can literally easily survive two years (first year + PIP year) and then jump ship to companies with better WLB like Square and Google with your AWS experience. Microsoft sucks because they pay you 🥜 and make you unemployable. There’re many “senior” engineers here who haven’t coded or used a popular language/tool in years and are only experts at some bs internal tool. I want to jump ship but demand for Azure experience isn’t like AWS. It seems like every job wants AWS experience. I think, at AWS, at least you will learn a lot.
Tell the recruiter you want an L5 loop since you have the YOE for it, otherwise just apply through Amazon website for L5 role
I just made a similar move. L5 is totally possible. I have 3.5yoe
How is the change in WLB? Do you feel like it was worth the TC bump?
WLB depends entirely on your team/org. As it does at at MSFT tbh. I always heard great WLB things at MSFT but I knew people in Azure who left bc if how hard they were being workded. Similarly there are orgs and teams at Amazon that are pretty chill. Mine has been great. My base at Amazon is higher than my MSFT TC so I'm really happy!
I think someone from AWS should tell you how respected and intense the security org is. Maybe Security orgs have better wlb than IT? From what I understand, PIP quota is present across orgs but some orgs are lax because they are high performing.
Hey @Tesla can u please dm me I am out of dms I need a referral please 🥺
Be certain you understand how the compensation works with base pay and stocks, the 2 year cliff. You will work for your extra cash. L4 you can think of that as the level they hire grads in as. Watch this video clip https://youtu.be/umMZYN5jOA0
Go for 5, simpler to LC/system design on the side, it's not much harder. Amazon pip is way overblown on blind.
The recruiter wanted me to interview as an L4 and I said no. He then said I can decide at offer stage. I’ve already started interviewing. Can I ask to be L5 at offer stage or is it too late? I did pretty well in the technical interview.
Its worse than they say
You mean Security Positions at AWS are worse? How
How long were you at microsoft? Just leave if you dont like it. Im 28 and have had 4 jobs.
1+ here.
Whats your TC?