Amazon

Most of the BS office culture so prevalent in Silicon Valley is not present in South Lake Union (but, see first 'con' below).

Robust dialogue regarding design decisions is strongly encouraged, and SDEs at all levels tend to participate in such dialogues (but, see second 'con' below).

• None of the free meals, free parking, permissive expense policies, and so forth that you'll find in most of the major Silicon Valley companies.

• Background: "Disagree and commit" is one of the core corporate values, and this is often a good thing (see second 'pro' above). However, there are more than just a few SDEs who interpret this as a license to be loudmouthed jerks.

Make a stronger effort to identify and retain the SDEs who stand out.

In addition to the two dimensions that SDE promotions seem to be primarily based on (technical competence and project management), managers should also be on the lookout for people who make strong contributions to the culture of a team. In particular, look for those who make other team members feel comfortable and more inclined to participate.

Amazon loses a lot of SDEs who excel in this regard.