"Work hard, have fun" is very apropos - Software Development Engineer Amazon Employee Review

5.0
May 9, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

*NOTE: these are generalizations. Crappy managers and co-workers do exist* -Smart and skilled people -Highly motivated people -During any type of "political debate," asking what is best for the customer usually gets people on the same page -Easy to move around the company. In fact, it's encouraged. -Things are done for a reason -Managers seem to be s**t umbrellas rather than s**t funnels. -Due to the ridiculous scale of our systems, the one in a billion edge case keeps us up at night -The promotions thing is done on a strict merit basis. If everyone in a department deserves a promotion, they all get it. There is no quota. But each promotion / review is heavily vetted with a bunch of management folks. -I can drink on the job. We have weekly beer bashes and occasional nerf wars. It's a pretty good balance of youth and older, more experienced folks. -Management is in tune with you, and what you want to do / are doing. Most teams have weekly one-on-ones with their manager to just chat. -Management is responsive and receptive

Cons

-Your career growth is dictated by the opportunities made available to you at the team you're on. -People switch teams about every 2 years. Which is great, since it enables you to move around easily, but it also causes some turnover pains. -Depending on the team, the pager thing can be annoying. But it's not that terrible, and many teams don't have a rotation. But you do have folks in Ireland / India to take them during the night.

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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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