Google Application Engineer - growth trajectory

Feb 24 10 Comments

What are growth options for an Application Engineer at Google?

I’m a Senior Manager promote (13 YOE) at Accenture, but still do a bit of hands on work. Got an L4 AE offer from Google. Am I downgrading my career if I move as AE in Google? Also, what are my exit options if I get bored after few years ?

Note that I do ERP integration (not traditional software development).

Current TC: 235k (yet to receive my new comp).
Google offer: 167k base + 200k RSU + 15% bonus + 20k joining.

#google

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TOP 10 Comments
  • Amazon
    jPesos

    Go to company page Amazon

    jPesos
    You’re better off LCing and try for SDE if your workload is manageable at Accenture. Google AE would’ve made more sense if your YOE was less. Or try for Customer Engineer in GCP or AWS Proserve(SAP migrations expert for AWS)
    Feb 24 5
    • Google
      non-ui

      Go to company page Google

      non-ui
      Progress is not great from what I have seen. About 50% seem to be converted TVCs. There is not much opportunity for new or interesting work, as like the other poster said, it is essentially the consulting arm of GCP. If you cannot reinterview and join as a SWE, and don't have better options, go ahead and do it, but it is not particularly fun or interesting work and you don't have any real ownership of anything. It is just writing wrappers around third party apps.
      Feb 24
    • Thanks non-ui. I’ve been doing a bit of research on LinkedIn - most Application Engineers seem to be at the same role since joining google, which is fine if there is growth. But without a career advancement, I don’t want to risk taking the google offer just for the brand name. My current work doesn’t let me do a lot of hands on, but I get to play around with some of the latest and greatest integration tech.
      Feb 24
  • Fiserv
    🥜buoy

    Go to company page Fiserv

    🥜buoy
    What is SM BTW? And how does application engineer differ from a traditional S.W.E?
    Feb 24 1
  • Any Google Application Engineers here can speak about refreshers and exit opportunities?
    Feb 26 0
  • SM -> Senior Manager (I updated OP as well). Essentially, I’m a people manager and one step away from upper management (managing director) at Accenture.

    However, other posts on this forum are not very appreciative of AE role in Google.

    AEs work on building applications (internal to google or sometimes external apps that complement a google product). Typical AE jobs : Salesforce, SAP, Workday development and integration.
    Feb 24 0