If you have kids, or want to have kids someday, look elsewhere. - Systems Engineer Amazon Employee Review

2.0
Mar 9, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I came to Amazon 9 years ago and learned a lot. I was continuously challenged and pushed in the cold, Darwinian way that Amazon loves so much. This helped me get exposure to processes and technology that I wouldn't have had in a smaller company. It enforced a discipline that has benefitted me since then.

Cons

Amazon is a Darwinian environment. You hit the ground running and if you don't keep up your life will be miserable. This inherently is biased toward single, ambitious type-A personalities who live off of Bezos's words and happily spend 60+ hours a week in meetings, projects, meetings about projects, meetings about long-term plans about projects, traveling to remote sites, etc. The amount of "heroics" that I and my fellow engineers had to do to keep things running and maintain and "average" review rating was not trivial and looking back it was not always worth it. The humiliation and pressure from management to keep up and get promoted gave me a lot of anxiety and stress-related illnesses that were not worth it in the long-run. If you decide to work for Amazon you should go in with the thought that you will only stay long enough to gain valuable experience, improve your skills, and then get out. I made the mistake of staying too long hoping things would get better. They won't. Also, as a final warning, expect a large portion of your compensation to come from RSUs which come twice a year. If you don't budget wisely, you can be in a world of financial hurt even at Amazon's pay scale.

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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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