Lack of transparency - Software Development Engineer Amazon Employee Review

2.0
16 Apr 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good pay Chances of internal transfer to different teams

Cons

Lack of transparency, engineers are put on 'dev-plan' without even notifying them. Goals keep on changing. Suddenly some new task comes up with a tight deadline, and everything is put on hold. Lots of meetings, most of which are wasted in discussing unnecessary mundane things. Work within the parallel universe of amazon internal technologies and frameworks. I probably have written only a few thousand lines of code in more than a year. Most if the projects are basically refactors, migration from one framework to another. I know a few developers who have spent more than 6 months without writing any code: basically spending time in configurations, jsons and doing things with other amazon internal tools. Some of the projects look like they are being done just for the heck of it. Perfectly working code gets re-written to use some other 'internal framework' for no apparent reason. Of course, we are paid to do this, but its not at all motivating.

Explore other reviews about Amazon

5.0
9 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good pay Clean facilities Safe environment

Cons

Even though I had a bachelor's, I was never considered for management position. Hopefully you live nearby or tolls across the bridge will kill your income.

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
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