No Balance amongst the Chaos - Software Development Engineer I Amazon Employee Review

2.0
19 Mar 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I was an SDE I at amazon for 1.5 years. The projects are at amazon scale, and the resources exist to tackle any problem. There are many smart engineers who bring valuable industry experience to their designs and feedback. Generally meetings were productive. Career advancement opportunities exist if you are proactive about finding them.

Cons

Those who succeed at amazon have a poor work/life balance. It's a joke amongst the engineers that you can't work at amazon and have a life, and it stopped being funny when I realized it is true. Projects are chaotic and requirements are always in flux, making maintainable code impossible unless you are willing to put in the extra effort to stay on top of everything. I witnessed several accounts of career growth being squelched because of the chaotic culture. Several colleagues of mine were not given well-deserved promotions because either (1) they had been re-org'd and denied the opportunity to complete a design project or (2) people come and go so often that someone with valuable feedback might be gone before they give input.

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5.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Amazon offers an exceptional work environment with cutting-edge technology and world-class engineering challenges. The compensation package is highly competitive, including strong base salary, RSUs, and comprehensive benefits. Career growth opportunities are abundant — there are clear promotion paths and access to internal mobility across thousands of teams globally. The scale of impact is unmatched; you work on systems that serve hundreds of millions of customers worldwide. Colleagues are incredibly talented, driven, and collaborative, making every project both challenging and rewarding.

Cons

The pace can be fast and demanding at times, which requires strong time management skills. Work-life balance may vary depending on the team and project deadlines.

5.0
10 Jan 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Really smart people, a lot of opportunity for growth, always encouraged to be innovative, think big, and create something new. Competitive salary and benefits with other major tech companies. 100% self motivating work environment. No dress code and 4 legged friends are welcome.

Cons

You have to be self motivated. NO ONE will hold your hand and tell you that you're doing a great job. If you need constant affirmations from management, this company isn't for you.

3159
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