A frustrating disappointment - System Software AMD Employee Review

2.0
Mar 15, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

AMD has less nonsense time wasters from upper management than a company such as Intel. For example, less required "training" in subjects such as 'business ethics', 'sexual harassment', and 'soldering safety'. AMD has less of the "too secret to show you" people than Intel.

Cons

AMD has too many non-technical managers. Surprisingly enough, engineering is fairly important at a microprocessor design company. How can a manager who is technically incompetent do a good job managing engineers? The result is promotions for those engineers with unusual skill in powerpoint, fast talking and hand waving, or who speak with an unusual accent. AMD has way too many project managers, at least in some areas. These non-technical people "manage" highly technical projects by constantly asking about the schedule, rather than solving project logistic or hardware problems. An engineer who has good powerpoint and hand waving skills will be happy here. However if you believe actual results are more important than talk, you will be frustrated at AMD. Advice for interviewing: It is very easy to impress the non-technical managers, if you can do it with a straight face. Just use as many of these phrases as possible when speaking: move forward going forward enablement traction driving towards all on the same page We aren’t where we want to be close the loop stay tuned this data is still very wet take the discussion offline we are in alignment Also: never call yourself an engineer. You are an Architect.

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5.0
Jun 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Friendly team to work with

Cons

Long hours sometimes overtime needed

5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very exciting work, so much so I work 20hours a day. No distractions from silly/fun events. Food is meh so I can focus on work. Coffee is also very mid, not good, not bad but mid.

Cons

Not enough work, I only work 20 hour a day, I still have 4 hours to sleep. And on the weekends, we still have 3 hour leisure time. We still accept People who gets hired expecting to work only a measly 80 hour week.

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