Amazon Alexa AI Team SDE 2 vs Microsoft Azure Level 60?

Oracle
techlord12

Go to company page Oracle

techlord12
Jun 20, 2019 57 Comments

Hi I have received an offer from Amazon AlexaAI team located in Seattle. The recruiter reached out asking me a salary I am expecting. I said I am expecting 250k (Have got competing offers).

Please help me out with your insights.

The current level they are offering is SDE 2, L5.

1. What is the expected pay I can ask for?
2. Currently the team is in Seattle, can I ask for an opportunity in Bay Area? (Family and Girlfriend are in Bay Area)
3. I see a lot of complains about WLB at Amazon and have also seen some of my friends complain about it. Does anyone here have any idea about how AlexaAI team is?

My other offer is:
Microsoft Azure Data & Intelligence team:
TC: 200k

YoE: 2

I know there’s no job safety in any company and we have to perform, saying that which among these two companies is stable. I see a lot of posts about PIPs at Amazon.

I am on F1 OPT visa and I have two more shots at H1B. Microsoft said they would send me to Canada if I don’t get H-1B. What would Amazon do?

Any insights are really appreciated. Puns are also welcome 🍿

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TOP 57 Comments
  • Amazon
    HjNW76

    Go to company page Amazon

    HjNW76
    Which team in Alexa ai?
    Jun 20, 2019 19
    • Amazon
      Unicornish

      Go to company page Amazon

      Unicornish
      Some sr. manager departures and turnover, impacted positively and negatively by reorgs, and much behind schedule in a big part of their charter. By and large this wont effect you much as an L5 SDE.
      Jun 20, 2019
    • Oracle
      techlord12

      Go to company page Oracle

      techlord12
      OP
      Also how easy is it to switch teams at Amazon from Seattle to Bay Area? I really want to work from Bay Area. I think my group is intelligent decisions. They work on ML and NLU. I tried to DM you but I can’t because I’ve used all my DMs. Could you please provide insights?
      Jun 20, 2019
  • Amazon
    hachi9

    Go to company page Amazon

    hachi9
    Btw Alexa in general is pretty bad. I’ve met a couple people from Alexa AI. All of them are trying to leave within a year. Nevertheless, Alexa AI is pretty big, maybe you get a good team. Odds aren’t good though
    Jun 20, 2019 10
    • Oracle
      techlord12

      Go to company page Oracle

      techlord12
      OP
      I’m thinking about Amazon as well. My recruiter isn’t connecting me with teams based in Bay Area. Could you please suggest what I could do? I really want to try for opportunities in Bay Area.
      Jun 21, 2019
    • Amazon
      hachi9

      Go to company page Amazon

      hachi9
      I’m not super sure on what you should do here.. Find some HMs on LinkedIn that’s hiring perhaps? Or just go to your team and try to transfer later.
      Jun 21, 2019
  • Amazon
    HAzq58

    Go to company page Amazon

    HAzq58
    Go with amazon offer. 60 is similar like a L4. I disagree with the comment above about switching team or org in amazon. It’s super easy. I know people who joined for. 1-3 month in amazon and switched team. Compensation and career wise, Amazon is better. It will take longer to go from 60 to 62.63. But easier to promote from 5 to 6 if you are in the right track . With l6, you can get 63-64 at Microsoft depend on yoe
    Jun 20, 2019 3
    • Amazon
      HAzq58

      Go to company page Amazon

      HAzq58
      250k is a reasonable ask for l5. But for 60, impossible. I don’t think you should worry about pip, that’s 5-10% if the org direct has >50 reports. Not all orgs have this quota. Although msft does not have stack rank, it does have manage out sometimes.

      You could probably use this offer to negotiate with msft ask for 61-62 and raise the pay. But I don’t think msft will match
      Jun 21, 2019
    • Amazon
      HAzq58

      Go to company page Amazon

      HAzq58
      Not sure about switching location, but I don’t think pay scale may change
      Jun 21, 2019
  • Microsoft / Eng
    Gehjiddrt6

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    PRE
    Amazon
    Gehjiddrt6
    Go with Microsoft. When you are unhappy with comp in future, Go to amazon for some time and come back to Microsoft.
    Jun 20, 2019 5
  • Microsoft / Eng
    🌆blood

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    🌆blood
    2 yoe 200k is awesome. Both MS and Amazon are pretty flexible when it comes to visa issues. You can always talk to manager and hr before accepting the offer about contingencies
    Jun 20, 2019 5
    • Oracle
      techlord12

      Go to company page Oracle

      techlord12
      OP
      Yes I’m waiting for Amazon. If Amazon isn’t offering 240 then I’m not taking.
      Jun 20, 2019
    • New / IT
      hard work

      New IT

      hard work
      Do you mind breaking down your Microsoft offer TC
      Jun 21, 2019