Joined Amazon as L5 SDM, after a year promoted to L6, got 4 teams to manage (25 ppl). A year later burned out due to toxic leadership at Amazon, took 2 month leave, feel technically competent but don’t want to work with these people anymore so started to look for greener pastures. Got 2 offers. What would you choose career-wise? Google: L6 Engineering Manager leading 7ppl team in Google Cloud behind a well known product. Siemens: Director of Engineering, 200 people, country manager role. TC for both almost the same around $200k (Eastern Europe). Biggest org I managed so far is 25 people, always wanted to go executive path, did MBA, actually passionately enjoy management podcasts, books, etc but have a feeling Director now can be too early and I can fail spectacularly. No experience managing budget and very little in proper strategic management. Google is a step back in scope, 3 times smaller team but this compensation at this scope at my location is like winning a lottery and potentially relaxed job. What would you choose career-wise? Blind tax: L6 SDM Amazon TC 150k YOE: 6
I would any day pick role instead of a company.
Maybe move to the US?
I’d like to, but Google doesn’t want to sponsor visa and team match me with teams in US, maybe opportunity presents itself in future.
I would go with Siemens, since it has a much higher higher impact on the executive level, and you can easily pivot to other executive positions later on. Good luck and congratulations on the offers! TC: 105K
Thanks, that makes sense. It is hard to get from manager to executive, maybe harder than from IC to manager and next opportunity might not show up for a long time.
6 yoe? With director of eng? How did you manage that?
That’s why I have impostor syndrome and doubt my ability not to get kicked out after trial period. My career path is: 2 years as junior at employer1, hired as mid at employer2, promoted to senior after a year, another year passed (total 2 at enployer2) and got hired at Amazon for L5 SDM, a year passed, promoted to L6, spent 1.5 year as L6 dipping toes into managing other managers and here it is, 6 YOE and somehow passed interview for Director.
Nice;
How does Google L6 compare to Siemen director?
That’s why I’m posting :) Google seems to be easy job for great money, Director is a different world and career step that a lot of people either never achieve or very late in career.
Well… congrats… Did you do interviews for both? How many rounds each? Where do you think you will get more shares? Pick that one
TC is virtually same including shares value, less than 10% difference. Google is a standard loop process: 2 system designs, 1 code review, tech leadership, ppl management. Siemens: 2 rounds with VP of engineering and 1 with another Director. More conversation than interview, questions like “share your thoughts on COVID at workplace” or general “what did you do “
What was difficulty levels for system design rounds? What type of questions asked?
Take the leap that scares you… either you succeed or you learn…
One of the best advice 👌
Hm, maybe. Choosing safe option might lead to some regret with “could’ve done more”.
YOE 6 and you are already getting oppor to lead 200 people! Amazon trained you well!
Like in prison, 1 year counts for 5 :) But jokes aside, yes, I learned a lot. Joined as first time manager and during two years got opportunities thrown at me until I failed and burned out: wrote vision and strategy docs, got ass chewed by L8 on weekly meetings, promoted 2 ppl, fired 2 ppl, managed 2 other managers.
Could you tell us if those hire to fire stories are true?
Currently I use my hand to direct semen. Anyways, if I were you I would take google.