Solution Architect vs TAM role in AWS. 1) Which role is well respected in AWS. 2) which one is better for career prospects. 3) I feel TAM role is more of "a support/service delivery/management role with AWS customers as your clients. I feel this role owns the responsibilities of service delivery and escalation triage without owning any resources. Meaning you have multiple clients yelling in your ear and you go about chasing people" - is my assumption correct ? Looking forward to hear your stories and suggestions.
Very correct.
Definitely not correct. AWS TAM role is radically different then most other TAM roles, and the interview process will show that. You are required to be technical and required to not only be reactive but proactive and help with architectural design and planning. While you have some parts that come with being reactive, like chasing resources, this is only needed when you exhaust your limits.
Can you tell me how AWS TAM role is different. It's my understanding that TAMs work in team of two and paired with Solution Architects who does the POCs. For any in depth products which are not in scope or beyond with POC or needs further evaluation etc goes to a SME team supporting that. I do see any feature enhancements and functionality post sales would channel through TAM for specific product and in enhancements. But I am not sure how TAM role stands out than rest ? Can you please help explain. Thanks
You are paired with another TAM, that is correct. Most of the time when TAM's are assigned, the SA generally will disengage and you end up taking the role of both the SA and the TAM. The SA only drops in for pre-sales engagement to pitch services or help POC a new service. If you are unable to POC or assist in deep dive engagements, you can engage an SME (which TAM's can be if you do the training for that subject) and they assist you. Think of the TAM role as a hybrid of the SA and Support role. The difference in the TAM role here vs. the SA role is that the SA doesn't get to know their customers very well and doesn't get paged by the customer.
Being a TAM at AWS is the worst job you will ever have. Nobody knows what the managers do. Managers are breaking more hiring laws than you can count and HR shuts their eyes, covers their ears, and turns their heads. Nobody is happy, leaders have their heads in the sand and don’t listen.
Hi. Do you have insights on difference between tam role and customer solutions manager role at Amazon ?
The main difference is that TAMs are more post sales, dealing with escalation of support cases, being paged in the middle of the night, have to apologize for service issues. Customers are paying to have a TAM so it’s expected that you will add value. TAMs are technical but you need to own it and pursue a technical area of depth, otherwise you will become just a project manager with technical skills. If you earn trust with the customer, they usually try to hire you.
From a general industry perspective solution architect is more transferable skill.. and you will stay more technical. You can pivot to Enterprise architect , customer support specialist, principal engineer and more..
Assumption is correct. A TAM role at ANY company is the piñata for the customer to pound on. Been one at two firms. No change.
Were you a SA or TAM at AWS ? How'd you say work culture for TAM at AWS is like.
Wasn't directly at AWS. I was a TSAM and TAM for other companies. Culture was exactly the same when you are a TAM, no matter where you work. You're supposed to apologize for the hold-ups and understand the customer when they complain. If you have a psychiatrist certificate, you'll do better than most :)