Great place to work but not for everyone - Software Development Engineer II Amazon Employee Review

3.0
Jul 3, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

* Good challenging problems to solve. * Easy access to senior talent if you are in Seattle HQ.

Cons

* Bad if you get into team with legacy systems * Higher expectations, work life balance is not great in all teams, and weekends oncall is not a great thing. * Off shore teams do not have senior talent * Lot of politics at higher level (depends on team too) * Promotions needs you to be hardworking and lucky both

Explore other reviews about Amazon

5.0
Jun 2, 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
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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