Thankless, dog-eat-dog environment - Product Manager Amazon Employee Review

2.0
Sep 19, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong company focus on innovation and providing a good customer experience

Cons

Boiler room dog-eat-dog environment, intense non-stop pace, little real focus on employee development, arrogant 'smartest person in the room' atmosphere Amazon treats most employees, especially non-tech employees, like a necessary evil. It is communicated to employees implicitly or explicitly that it is a privilege to work there, and that they should be thankful. Working at Amazon is like being in an abusive marriage with the homecoming king/queen that looks shiny from the outside, but hides a lot of misery on the inside. One of Amazon's leadership principles is "Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit". But many managers use this principle to bully their own subordinates into submission. Amazon is the dream workplace of every micro-managing, opinionated boss. Decent, well-rounded individuals with integrity are generally not happy and don't do well at Amazon.

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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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