PM getting alternate offer for Sr Tech Program Mgr
I recently interviewed (poorly) at Amazon for L7 PMT position, but got offered L6 TPM. Some background on me: Business graduate with over 15 YOE in midwest and east coast. Experience mainly in tech, SaaS env with last 8 yrs in Prod Mgmt. I was employed at a couple of good brand names like Cap One, Deloitte and ADP. I want to stay in product management, as that is what I enjoy. However, Amazon is a good brand name, and therein lies my conundrum. Q: Are there any PMs who are doing TPM job at Amazon? How do you feel about it? Q: How easy/ difficult is it to move from TPM to PMT? Q: Levels....Seems like I am coming in Junior. Thoughts? thx!
Any thoughts from current or past Amazonians?
Q1: they are very different roles, but both have a ton of impact in the products lifecycle. PM is more focused on questions like what/why and the business impact; TPM is about how/when and expects to contribute more to unblocking the team technically. Q2: The transfer process is pretty easy if you’ve been a PM before. That said usually I find the skill sets of what amazon wants from those two roles don’t have a ton of overlap (it happens though). Q3. An industry L6 hire is a senior level role and will be given a ton of scope. 8 years of PM experience would be pretty light for an L7 PM.
Appreciate the thorough response
Former Amazonian - it depends a lot on your group/product and not all director/VPs manages their business the same so I’d do extensive research on the higher level org, at least 2 levels above the hiring manager. Assume your immediate manager can (will) change frequently. TPM is a project/ program management job you’ll be deep into project plans, leveling, working with the engineering team so if that’s what u enjoy it should be ok. As mentioned above it’s pretty diff from PM role. Also as far as moving, specially up to L7 from 6 do not assume it will happen any time soon.
L6 is a Sr position at Amazon, as far as I know. You should have your hands full