Satisfied SDEII says you'll learn alot, some of it will be applicable elsewhere. - Software Development Engineer II Amazon Employee Review

4.0
Jun 13, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Amazon has a lot of interesting projects going on at any given time. You will likely be dealing with projects that have a scale that few other companies can compete with. This will well prepare you for your next job. If you're interested in a project that you are not working on you can still access the code and explore the development environments. This helps when starting a new project so that you can see how others have done things before. Amazon tries to hire smart people, this means that you will likely be surrounded by people that will be able to teach you something.

Cons

The biggest downside is also one of the upsides. There are so many projects being actively developed at one time that often the wheel is re-invented many times. This can makes it difficult to decide the right way to do something. There are also a ton of proprietary tools. The build system is very complex and some would say overkill for java development. That's understandable considering it was built for complex C++ linking and library managment. The deployment tool is very robust, and thus hard to understand resulting in a large learning curve for even the more senior developers. Hopefully someone on your team knows how to work the thing!

Explore other reviews about Amazon

5.0
Jan 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working as a Data Center Engineering Operations (DCEO) technician at AWS has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. Every day, I know that my work directly supports the infrastructure that powers services used by millions of customers worldwide—from Netflix streaming to NASA processing Mars rover images. What makes this role special is the sense of ownership and responsibility. DCEO technicians are truly the heartbeat of the data center, maintaining the critical power, cooling, and life safety systems that keep AWS running at 99.999% uptime. The mission is clear: be stealthy in action and swift in recovery, solving problems before they impact customers. The technical challenges keep the work engaging. Whether I'm monitoring building management systems, responding to alarms, managing preventative maintenance programs, or coordinating with vendors, there's always something new to learn. The role demands both hands-on technical skills and critical thinking, which makes every shift dynamic and rewarding. AWS invests heavily in training and development. The comprehensive onboarding process, detailed standard operating procedures, and access to subject matter experts across Field Engineering and other support teams ensure you're never alone in solving complex problems. The emphasis on safety is genuine—leadership truly prioritizes that everyone goes home in the same condition they arrived. Working alongside dedicated teams like DCO, Infrastructure Delivery, and Logistics creates a collaborative environment where everyone understands how their role contributes to the bigger picture. The 24/7 nature of the work means building strong relationships with your shift team, and there's real camaraderie in knowing you're all working toward the same critical mission. For anyone who enjoys hands-on technical work, values operational excellence, and wants to be part of maintaining world-class infrastructure at global scale, DCEO at AWS offers a challenging and meaningful career path.

Cons

Time constraints, and demands can be overwhelming.

5.0
Jan 10, 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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