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High impact work overshadowed by toxic culture

Software Development Manager
Former Employee
Worked at Amazon for 11 years
October 9, 2026
Seattle, WA
2.0
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookNo CEO Opinion
Pros

There was high-impact work due to the scale of Amazon. It was a double-edged sword, as small misses also got magnified due to the scale.

It was easy to overwork yourself and get ahead.

Cons

It promotes a toxic culture of throwing another team under the bus, and it's even rewarded. There is a ruthless leadership culture.

Many engineers will be top performers elsewhere, but they will be mediocre or close to the bottom at Amazon due to the nature of stack ranking. There is a high churn rate. Expect your TPMs to leave, followed by your Senior Engineers, followed by your most trusted aides.

Advice to Management

If you really care about Customer Obsession, stop the culture of empire building and actually listen to your first line managers.

Additional Ratings

Work/Life Balance
1.0
Culture and Values
1.0
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
2.0
Career Opportunities
4.0
Compensation and Benefits
4.0
Senior Management
1.0

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