Experience heavily depends on team and what you put in - Software Development Engineer Amazon Employee Review

3.0
Aug 12, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Flexibility to do work that immediately goes into production -Ship things quickly -Helpful teammates -Linux (and macs)! Seriously, this is a huge plus. unix tools > everything I really enjoyed being able to work on a lot of projects and seeing them go live. You could literally build stuff and ship on the same day.

Cons

-Because we ship so quickly, oftentimes there are issues overlooked -Experience highly depends on the quality of your team -More hours=more rewards for learning, but little rewards from management that is often biased towards friends -Personal growth 100% in your own hands - manager does little to help This really bugs me. The range of experiences really depends on the team you end up on. If you end up on a team with very few coding standards, lack of good SDE's, a manager who doesn't reward people properly, and lack of technical understanding in the team overall - and these teams are out there in bunches - then expect to have a really mediocre experience, even if you put in the shifts. At some point, when you are critical for every project your team owns, some teams can be very demanding by having you on-call 24/7 - if at any point something related to that breaks, they will call you, regardless of who's on-call. Also, be wary of managerial nepotism. Some teams aren't entirely meritocratic. Managers might just promote/rewards people they are friends with/most senior, NOT who has contributed the most to the team growth.

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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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