A real mixed bag - Software Development Manager Amazon Employee Review

2.0
11 Jul 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The people are fantastic - the recruitment process ensures you'll get excellent, technically skilled, challenging colleagues. The technology is brilliant - Amazon as a whole really leads with the standard of internal technology. Working in the Glasshouse means you're working on Amazon Instant Video, which is a very sexy (and interesting) product.

Cons

Your experience will vary massively depending on who manages you. Management standards are wildly inconsistent, and some of the most senior managers display surprisingly amateurish leadership skills. The culture is very bureaucratic - expect to deal in wordy narrative documents for everything from feature specs to promotion justification. The constant priority shifts mean teams don't actually deliver a lot. The operational support required means a lot of engineers spend a week every month getting woken up in the middle of the night on a regular basis.

Explore other reviews about Amazon

5.0
27 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of mentorship and opportunities

Cons

Could potentially get night shift

5.0
10 Jan 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
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All