AWS Solutions Architect 2YOE

Salesforce / Sales
ncnfo1

Go to company page Salesforce Sales

PRE
Amazon, Microsoft, Smartsheet, Starbucks, Facebook
ncnfo1
Jun 14, 2021 6 Comments

Based in TX as a Solutions Engineer for Salesforce (came through their new grad program and worked at Amazon before for > a year as a BA).

Love working at Salesforce but the pay for their new grad SEโ€™s is ๐Ÿฅœ.

I want to go back to Amazon and be an SA at AWS (I wanted to transfer but my manager wouldnโ€™t let me because I was an L3 in a non-tech data analyst role). Does AWS have any L4 SA roles and are what are some good resources I can use to prep?

TC - 88k

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TOP 6 Comments
  • Yes they do, last I checked they were roles for people with 0-2 YOE done through a program called Tech U. Its a year long training and ramp up program since they don't traditionally hire SAs at the L4 level.

    I went through the interviews and got an offer but passed as I was unsure if SA was what I wanted to do. Interview questions were all technical concepts with no coding. Things like - RTO vs RPO, symmetric vs asymmetric encryption, compiled vs interpreted language, SQL vs noSQL. Oh and LP behavioral questions too.
    Jun 14, 2021 3
    • Don't recall details because I got it all over the phone but I think TC was around 140k for Seattle, I assume not too far off for TX. Check levels.fyi though.

      I don't think it would be horrible, you'd get a pay bump and come in with minimal expectations, meaning you can take your time to learn the AWS environment and get situated in your role. In one of my rounds I spoke with an L7? SA and he said that the program graduates are their top performers. Plus you have a clear promo path in front of you.
      Jun 14, 2021
    • Amazon
      jassman

      Go to company page Amazon

      jassman
      Iโ€™d agree with that. TechU will really set you up to succeed in the role if you donโ€™t mind the training and ramp-up. Most external hires are former engineers or IT people who then have to learn on the job how to do all the SA stuff the way AWS wants it done.

      Itโ€™s challenging to be a generalist here because you are expected to have a 200 level knowledge of 40 core services and a basic understanding of over 100 othersโ€ฆ
      Jun 14, 2021
  • Amazon
    tekStx

    Go to company page Amazon

    tekStx
    I went through the Tech U program, and offer at the time was $130-$140 TC, with a large bump upon promo between 18-24 months.

    As far as I know, it is the only way to join AWS as an L4 SA externally. And I still have to prove myself to older SAs with a more IT-heavy background. Growing up in the system, however, teaches you how to navigate the company with lower expectations, which pays tenfold down the road
    Jun 15, 2021 1